Overview
- At a New Year news conference in Taipei, President Lai Ching-te condemned what he called China’s expanding ambitions and criticized recent military drills around Taiwan.
- He said the international community views China as a troublemaker that is undermining peace.
- Lai emphasized tighter coordination with Japan, the United States, and European partners as part of Taiwan’s deterrence strategy.
- Citing assessments that Beijing could gain the capability to invade by 2027, he vowed to prepare for the worst.
- He pressed Taiwan’s parties to swiftly pass a 2026–2033 special defense budget that remains stalled and highlighted priorities including advanced air-defense systems, unmanned aircraft, and robotics.