- [Narrator] For missiles you can carry on your shoulders,

to attack drones.

These are some of Ukraine's smaller weapons

and they've been effective at fighting Russia's bigger

and more powerful arms.

Military strategists say these lighter tools

can help an underdog army become more like a porcupine.

- The porcupine strategy is really

when a smaller military tries

to defend itself from a larger military,

which is the attacker.

And it uses lots of smaller weapons.

- [Narrator] This strategy has inspired Taiwan

and even its president to rethink

how to defend itself against a much larger adversary, China.

Beijing seized Taiwan as part of its territory.

(missile booming)

And as the possibility of an armed conflict

around the island has escalated,

(soldiers shouting)

Taipei is taking clues from Ukraine

to prepare to fight China's powerful army.

(pensive music)

For several decades, Taiwan has favored expensive gear

like fighter jets, helicopters and tanks

to prepare for a possible war with China.

(Wei speaking in foreign language)

- [Narrator] And this threat

has become heightened as tensions have soared

to the highest point over Taiwan in more than two decades.

After US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei,

Beijing began days of military exercises

that encircled the island.

(rocket whooshing)

Launching rocket and ballistic missiles

and sending navy ships and war planes nearby.

(gun shooting)

Defense analysts say if there were an actual invasion,

Taiwan alone wouldn't be able to ward off China

because its big-ticket weapons

would be quickly destroyed by a more powerful arsenal.

And Taiwan has far fewer soliders compared

with its neighbor, which has the world's largest military

by active personnel.

Given the disadvantages

that's where the so-called porcupine capabilities come in.

- Much like the animal,

it tries to inflict so much pain on the larger rival

that it stops the attacker.

(gun booming)

- [Narrator] And one way to inflict a lot of pain,

these handheld anti-tank and anti-aircraft equipment used

by individual soldiers.

Since the start of the war in Ukraine,

the US has sent thousands of stinger

and javelin missiles to the battlefield.

(weapon booming)

And these weapons are particularly useful

for smaller militaries

because they're able to have an outsized impact

on their rival.

- The Russians have been using lots

of large invasion forces using tanks,

and planes, and the Ukrainians

have been able to fight back

by using these smaller weapons

and using them very effectively

to destroy large targets.

- [Narrator] So far, hundreds of Russian tanks

and aircraft have been destroyed

since the war broke out in February,

according to an open source website

that tracks military equipment losses.

And that success has driven some Taiwanese leaders,

including the president to embrace these types

of anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons.

Earlier this year,

Taiwan's legislature also approved a motion

to conduct more training,

possibly involving portable missiles

like the javelin and stinger.

But those handheld missiles have limitations

because they only have an operating range

of about 2.5 miles.

(missile booming)

That's why Taiwan, like Ukraine,

is also getting longer-range weapons

like these mobile rocket launchers called HIMARS.

In Ukraine, they've allowed the army

to reach beyond Russia's frontline,

sending missiles up to 53 miles away.

In 2020, the US approved the first sale

of the weapon to Taiwan

and the island's Defense Ministry said it's looking

to buy more of them.

(drone whirring)

Another relatively small weapon

that can impose heavy losses from very far away,

the attack drone.

- So attack drones can be very useful

for smaller militaries

because it enables them to do significant damage

behind enemy lines.

Ukrainians have been destroying Russian tanks,

convoys that have been coming into the country.

- [Narrator] The attack drones have also been effective

at hitting Russia's navy.

In May, Ukraine released footage

of what it said were drones hitting two Russian vessels

in the Black Sea.

Russia didn't comment on the Ukrainian claim.

(weapon booming)

This type of sea-based assault

could happen in Taiwan since military experts say

a Chinese invasion would involve a lot

of ships coming over the Taiwan Strait.

So the island has been developing its own indigenous drones

like this one.

The US has also agreed to sell some drones

and Taiwanese lawmakers have been pushing

to purchase four of them.

- Fire, fire, fire.

(weapon shooting)

- [Narrator] Taiwan's government

isn't just preparing weapons.

(guns clicking)

Its citizens are also taking action.

So some people are picking up shooting lessons,

just like the Ukrainians,

and rallying this type of public support

is also an important part of the porcupine strategy.

(guns shooting)

- In Ukraine, things didn't go as quickly

as the Russians thought they would.

One of the reasons for that is the motivation

and the willingness of the Ukrainian population

to take up arms and to defend their country.

- [Narrator] So to prepare its citizens for a war,

Taiwan's Defense Ministry is debating plans

to extend military conscription for up to a year.

(Chiu speaking in foreign language)

- [Narrator] And a survey found

that more than 70% of adults

are in favor of a longer service time.

While Taiwan can learn a lot from Ukraine's experience,

there are unique challenges.

Ukraine borders other countries

and that makes it possible

for its troops to continue receiving a steady flow

of weapons and supplies.

- But Taiwan is an island

and there may be difficulties

if there is a Chinese invasion for Taiwan

to receive weapons from other countries,

particularly if the Chinese form

a blockade around the island.

So it needs to have large stockpiles ready

for a conflict.

- [Narrator] So building that stock

has become a priority.

This year, the government pledged

any extra $8.7 billion for military equipment.

The US, which has promised to help Taiwan defend itself

has been selling military gear to Taipei for decades

and after Pelosi's visit there,

she said America wouldn't abandon its commitment

to the island.

- We've worked together for the security of Taiwan.

(Hua speaking in foreign language)

- [Narrator] China's National Defense Ministry

didn't respond to a request for comment

about Taiwan's military build-up.

But Taiwan isn't the only one keeping a close eye

on the war in Ukraine.

Military experts say China is taking notes too.

- [Alastair] And one of those would be that if you are going

to try and take over one of your neighbors,

you need to use overwhelming force.

- [Narrator] And that's been showcased

during its live fire drills,

showing its ability to effectively blockade Taiwan.

- [Alastair] If Taiwan is faced with one

of the world's most powerful conventional militaries coming

at you with everything,

that's a very difficult challenge.

(pensive music)