China has significantly increased pressure on Taiwan in recent years, stoking fears that it could invade the island. Yet Beijing has options besides an invasion to coerce, punish, or annex Taiwan. This three-part series by the CSIS China Power Project examines key alternatives to an invasion and their potential impact.

The first report maps out how and why China could conduct a law enforcement–led “quarantine” of Taiwan to demonstrate Beijing’s ability to exert control over Taiwan. The second report analyzes the various approaches China could take to enforce a military “blockade” of Taiwan. The third report uses a unique methodology to provide new assessments of how much maritime trade flows through the Taiwan Strait and evaluate each country’s reliance on the strait.