Taiwan’s president has issued a blunt warning to Beijing after China wrapped up large-scale live-fire military drills encircling the island, declaring that Taiwan will defend its sovereignty against what he called China’s “expansionist ambitions.”
In a New Year’s address on Thursday, President Lai Ching-te said the world is watching whether Taiwan’s people have the resolve to protect their democracy. “My stance is clear,” Lai said. “We will firmly safeguard national sovereignty, strengthen national defense, and build an effective deterrence and democratic defense mechanism.”
The remarks came just days after China concluded drills involving rocket launches, warships and combat aircraft around Taiwan — exercises widely seen as a rehearsal for blockade or invasion scenarios. Beijing staged the drills amid anger over a planned U.S. arms sale to Taiwan worth more than $11 billion and comments by Japan’s new leader suggesting Tokyo could intervene if Taiwan were attacked.
China claims Taiwan as its territory and has repeatedly threatened to annex the island by force. On Wednesday, Chinese leader Xi Jinping doubled down, calling Taiwan’s eventual absorption into China “unstoppable.”
Taiwan is responding with urgency. The island has approved a $40 billion special defense budget to be spent between 2026 and 2033, including the construction of an advanced air-defense network known as the “Taiwan Dome.” Lai has also pledged to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP.
“Facing China’s serious military ambitions, Taiwan has no time to wait,” Lai said — a signal that Taipei is preparing not just for pressure, but for the possibility of war.
