Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense
| Primary URL | Location | Industry | www[.]mnd[.]gov[.]tw |
Country
Taiwan
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Government - National
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Profile
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense is the cabinet-level agency responsible for the formulation and execution of national defense policy for the Republic of China. It oversees the Republic of China Armed Forces, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Military Police, ensuring their readiness, training and operational capability. The ministry develops defense strategy, manages the defense budget and supervises procurement of equipment and technology. It also coordinates civil‑defense measures and works with other government bodies on security‑related matters.
Headquartered in Taipei, the ministry serves the entire territory of Taiwan and its outlying islands, providing the central authority for all military affairs. As a branch of the Executive Yuan, it reports directly to the President of the Republic of China, who serves as the commander‑in‑chief of the armed forces. The ministry’s reach extends to every military installation and unit across the country, allowing it to issue orders and policy directives that affect personnel nationwide.
A distinguishing attribute of the ministry is its exclusive mandate over national defense, making it the sole government entity tasked with regulating and directing the armed forces. This regulatory role includes setting standards for military education, doctrine and joint operations, as well as overseeing defense research and development initiatives. The ministry’s competencies were highlighted during the August 2022 distributed denial‑of‑service attack, when its network was temporarily disrupted alongside other government sites, demonstrating both its high profile and the cyber‑threat environment it operates in. Its ability to maintain command and control under such incidents reflects its focus on resilience and continuity of operations.
Structurally, the Ministry of National Defense is a civilian-led ministry within the Executive Yuan, with the Minister of National Defense appointed by the President and confirmed by the Legislative Yuan. It does not have a parent corporation or subsidiary structure; instead, it directly supervises the various branches of the armed forces and related agencies such as the Armed Forces Reserve Command and the Defense Mobilization Agency. The ministry’s leadership is responsible for balancing civilian oversight with military expertise, ensuring that defense policy aligns with the nation’s democratic governance and strategic interests.