Taiwan is looking at paying large rewards to Chinese pilots and ship crews who defect, a cheap counter to the constant air and naval pressure around the island — good for Taiwan's defense budget math, bad for Beijing's control over its own forces.

• China keeps sending planes and ships around Taiwan almost daily, wearing down Taiwan's forces and finances.
• Chasing every incursion with fighter jets and warships costs far more than the harassment costs China.
• Paying defectors who bring over an aircraft or vessel would be a fraction of that price, and Taiwan has offered such bounties before.
• The bigger prize is doubt inside China's military: if commanders cannot trust their own crews, they must fly and sail more cautiously.

Outlook: Expect continued pressure around Taiwan and more debate in Taipei over cheap, asymmetric answers to it.