TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has issued a resolute commitment to protect the island’s sovereignty in response to what he characterized as China’s “expansionist ambitions.” The declaration came during his New Year’s address, delivered shortly after Beijing concluded extensive live-fire military exercises encircling Taiwan.
President Lai emphasized the international community’s scrutiny of Taiwan’s determination to maintain self-defense capabilities. “As president, my stance has always been clear: to firmly safeguard national sovereignty, strengthen national defense and the resilience of the whole society, and comprehensively construct an effective deterrence and democratic defense mechanism,” he stated.
The address followed China’s demonstration of military prowess, which included rocket launches, aircraft sorties, and naval deployments. Beijing’s exercises were conducted in response to two primary provocations: a planned U.S. arms sale to Taiwan valued at over $11 billion—the largest such transaction to date—and comments from Japan’s new leader suggesting potential intervention in the event of a Chinese attack.
The substantial American arms package includes advanced missiles, drone systems, artillery platforms, and military software. This transfer occurs under U.S. legal obligations to provide Taiwan with defensive capabilities, despite China’s persistent claims over the self-governed island.
Chinese President Xi Jinping reinforced Beijing’s position in his own New Year’s address, describing eventual reunification as “unstoppable.” In preparation for continued tensions, Taiwan has approved a landmark $40 billion defense budget spanning 2026 to 2033. This allocation will fund the development of the ‘Taiwan Dome’—a comprehensive air defense network with advanced detection and interception capabilities—and supports President Lai’s pledge to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP.
“Facing China’s serious military ambitions, Taiwan has no time to wait,” President Lai concluded, underscoring the urgency of these defensive measures.