Taiwan President William Lai Ching-te has declared that higher military spending is intended to prevent conflict rather than provoke it, pledging that the island will not yield its freedom in the face of mounting pressure from Beijing.
Addressing thousands of attendees outside the Presidential Office in Taipei during National Day celebrations on Saturday, Lai stated that the island remains open to cross-strait dialogue but will not accept Chinese dominance.
“We are open to exchanges but will not accept subordination,” Lai said. “Our aim by increasing investment in national defence is not to provoke; rather, it is to deter war.”
Lai accused China of attempting to alter the regional status quo through armed pressure and grey-zone operations that stop short of open warfare. “Peace cannot rely solely on wishes, and tolerance cannot become a pretext for aggressors to encroach ever further,” he added.
To reinforce its security, Taiwan’s government has earmarked a record 1.1 trillion New Taiwan dollars ($34.5bn) for defence spending in 2027, exceeding 3 percent of its gross domestic product. The island is also awaiting United States President Donald Trump’s approval for a $14bn arms transfer that includes Patriot air defence systems.
China insists the island of 23 million people is part of its territory, has never renounced taking it by force, and has rejected Lai's offers for talks while labelling him a separatist. Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence reported that 21 Chinese military aircraft and seven naval ships operated near the island during the 24 hours leading up to Saturday morning, with 13 aircraft crossing the median line into Taiwan's air defence identification zone.
The National Day festivities, marking the 115th anniversary of the 1911 uprising that founded the Republic of China, drew foreign guests including King Mswati III of Eswatini, Indiana Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith and a delegation of Japanese lawmakers.
