Taiwanese President William Lai has announced plans to develop a cutting-edge air defense system, dubbed the ‘T-Dome,’ to counter potential threats from China. The announcement came during his National Day address, where Lai emphasized the urgent need to bolster Taiwan’s defenses in response to escalating Chinese military activities near the island. While Lai did not explicitly name China, the context was clear, given Beijing’s longstanding claim over Taiwan and its refusal to rule out the use of force to achieve reunification. The T-Dome, inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome, aims to provide multi-layered defense, advanced detection, and effective interception capabilities to safeguard Taiwanese citizens. Lai revealed that Taiwan’s defense spending will rise to over 3% of its GDP next year, with a target of 5% by 2030. However, this ambitious plan faces significant hurdles, including opposition from lawmakers who have blocked several defense-related spending bills this year. Analysts caution that implementing the T-Dome will require substantial financial resources and time, potentially extending beyond Lai’s current term. The announcement also appears to signal Taiwan’s commitment to self-defense to the United States, which is legally obligated to support Taiwan in the event of an attack. Lai urged China to act responsibly by renouncing the use of force in the Taiwan Strait, drawing parallels to the lessons of World War II. Despite Beijing’s labeling of Lai as a ‘separatist,’ his administration has taken a firmer stance against China, including significant investments in military preparedness and large-scale defense exercises.