Tel Aviv: China has expressed anger about the growing defence ties between Israel and Taiwan. China voiced significant disapproval of Taiwanese officials’ recent visits to Israel, which were all related to Taiwan’s intentions to purchase Israeli-made defence hardware.
Beijing views Taiwan as an inseparable part of its territory and opposes any official Israeli engagement with Taipei, citing the 1992 joint communique affirming one China. The embassy has repeatedly condemned such interactions as damaging bilateral ties and interfering in internal affairs.
Although high-level Taiwanese trips are restricted due to Israel’s formal recognition of Beijing, there are still common interests in defence technology. Taiwan backs Israel after October 7, while China has escalated rhetoric amid tensions over Gaza.
In an effort to assist the Asian nation in building an efficient air defence system, Taiwan and Israel have increased their cooperation. Strong, unofficial technological cooperation is a defining feature of Israeli-Taiwanese ties.
Despite not having official diplomatic relations because of Taiwan’s international standing, the two nations have signed more than 30 bilateral agreements and set up representative offices.
According to intelligence reports, Israel secretly supports Taiwan’s T-Dome development, including missile and radar technology transfers based on Israeli combat-proven radar technology created by ELTA, a division of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).
Taiwan’s Deputy Defence Minister visited Israel secretly in September 2025 to further coordinate the cooperation.
Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te announced the “T-Dome” air defence system in October 2025, explicitly inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome for multi-layered defence against missiles and drones. Taiwanese companies supply components like specialised steel and alloys for Iron Dome interceptors, deepening industrial links.
Taiwan is developing a multi-layered air defence systems that resembles the one that is operational in Israel. All this happens when Taiwan’s leadership believes a war with China is only a matter of time and therefore has enhanced its preparations.
Taiwan is developing the TK-4 anti-tactical ballistic missile (ATBM) system to counter growing threats from advanced Chinese tactical and ballistic missiles by creating a higher-altitude, more survivable, and domestically produced missile defence capability. The TK-4 is part of Taiwan’s ongoing strategy to modernise its multi-layer missile defence network and achieve strategic autonomy as Chinese missile arsenals grow in size, and sophistication.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
