KTT's Wargame

K. Tristan Tang is the founder and team lead of the KTT Wargaming System. He is a Research Fellow with the Defense Studies Initiative at the Taiwan Inspirational Association, a Nonresident Fellow at the National Bureau of Asian Research, and a Nonresident Vasey Fellow at Pacific Forum. He also serves as an Associate Fellow at Secure Taiwan Associate Corporation and the National Taiwan University Center for China Studies.

His research focuses on the People’s Liberation Army, particularly military exercises and senior-level purges. His work has appeared in publications affiliated with the U.S. Air University, the U.S. Naval War College, the U.S. Army War College, the Jamestown Foundation, and The Diplomat, among others. His analyses and wargaming activities have been reported on or cited by the U.S.–China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC), the Associated Press, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, The Economist, The Financial Times, NHK, Taiwan’s Central News Agency, and Liberty Times, among others.

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Admiral (Ret.) Hsi-min Lee is a former chief of the General Staff of Taiwan’s armed forces. He previously served as vice minister of national defense for policy and commander of the Republic of China Navy. He is the author of The Overall Defense Concept: An Asymmetric Approach to Taiwan’s Defense (2022; ISBN: 9789570864878) and Defending Our Island Home: An Asymmetric Approach to Taiwan’s Defense (2025; ISBN-13: 979-8262385744). He currently serves as a member of the Strategic Advisory Committee at Taiwan’s Institute for National Defense and Security Research, a senior nonresident fellow at the Washington-based Institute for Indo-Pacific Security, and an adjunct professor in the International Doctoral Program in Asia-Pacific Studies at National Chengchi University’s College of Social Sciences.

A career submarine officer, Admiral Lee commanded the ROC Navy submarine Hai Hu during the 1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis, leading the submarine on an operational mission at sea. During his tenure as chief of the General Staff, he developed and introduced the Overall Defense Concept (ODC), an approach to Taiwan’s defense that emphasizes asymmetric capabilities and concepts designed to counter a militarily superior adversary.

Participants assume the roles of officials from Taiwan, China, the United States, and other key countries. Based on each country’s strategic objectives, capabilities, and level of preparedness, participants compete to shape outcomes across multiple domains, including domestic stability and public confidence, maritime and airspace control, commercial shipping and insurance, semiconductor supply chains, energy transportation and security, financial stability, and food security.

No prior knowledge or preparation is required. The standard version lasts approximately 3 hours and accommodates 10–15 participants, with customized scenarios, participant numbers, and duration available upon request.

Participants assume the roles of officials from Taiwan and China, with the option of incorporating the United States and other key countries depending on the exercise objectives. Players command military and government organizations modeled on real-world cross-Strait structures and force compositions while competing for air superiority and sea control, conducting littoral operations and defense-in-depth, and managing whole-of-society resilience, diplomacy, and intelligence throughout the conflict.

Because this version features more detailed military operations and rules, participants are expected to possess a basic understanding of military affairs and should review the wargame handbook provided by the organizers before the exercise. The standard version lasts approximately 3.5 hours and accommodates 10–20 participants, with scenarios, participant numbers, and duration customizable to meet specific requirements.