Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te Emphasizes Defense Boost is Meant to Deter Conflict Amid Rising Tensions

During a National Day address outside the Presidential Office in Taipei, Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te declared that the island values peace and refuses to surrender its freedom. Speaking before an audience of thousands, including foreign diplomats, Lai emphasized a commitment to openness while firmly rejecting subordination.

“Our aim by increasing investment in national defence is not to provoke; rather, it is to deter war,” Lai stated, preceding a flyover featuring Taiwanese fighter jets and two Chinook helicopters carrying large national flags.

The celebration marked the 115th anniversary of the 1911 uprising that overthrew China's final imperial dynasty and established the Republic of China. Taiwan's population of 23 million continues to face persistent military pressure from China, which claims the island as its territory, labels Lai a “separatist,” and has consistently declined offers for dialogue.

Lai highlighted that Beijing persists in using military force and grey-zone tactics—actions falling just short of outright war—to alter the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. In response to these security challenges, Lai’s administration has allocated a historic 1.1 trillion New Taiwan dollars ($34.5bn) for defense in 2027, surpassing 3 percent of the gross domestic product.

While welcoming discussions between the United States and China, Lai stressed the necessity of respecting the existence rights of the Taiwanese people and called upon Indo-Pacific democracies to unite for regional stability. The United States remains Taiwan's primary security ally, with current deliberations underway regarding major arms packages, including a pending $14bn weapons deal.