Taiwan warns 2026 will be decisive year amid China's military drills
Photo: Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te (Getty Images)
Taiwan is determined to defend its sovereignty and strengthen its defenses in the face of China's growing expansion after Beijing fired missiles at the island as part of military exercises, according to Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te.
In his New Year's speech, Lai Ching-te says that the international community is watching to see whether the Taiwanese people are determined to defend themselves.
"As President, my stance has always been clear: to resolutely defend national sovereignty and strengthen national defence," he says, noting that China used Taiwan's recently added combat capabilities as a hypothetical enemy during its exercises this week.
The Taiwanese President says this demonstrated the need to increase defense spending, calling on opposition parties to support his plan to increase Taiwan's defense spending by $40 billion — a proposal that is currently stalled along with other issues in a political deadlock in the opposition-controlled parliament.
"Whether China can achieve its goals on schedule is one thing," Lai Ching-te says.
He was responding to a question about a US report that claimed China was preparing to be in a position to win a fight for Taiwan by 2027.
"The coming year, 2026, will be a crucial one for Taiwan," the President says.
He adds that Taiwan "make plans for the worst, but hope for the best."
"We are willing to engage in exchanges and cooperation with China on an equal and dignified basis, promoting a peaceful and shared environment across the strait. As long as China acknowledges the existence of the Republic of China, respects the Taiwanese people's desire for a democratic and free way of life," Lai Ching-te says.
China's military exercises
In December, the US State Department announced that Taiwan would receive a package of weapons worth more than $11 billion. This is the largest sale of American weapons to Taiwan, which will receive missiles, drones, artillery systems, and military software.
In response, China conducted urgent, extraordinary military exercises around Taiwan. The large-scale maneuvers affected the sea and air, causing concern in the region and close attention from international observers. The exercises affected a 24-mile special maritime zone around the island.
US President Donald Trump downplayed the significance of China's new military maneuvers, calling them routine exercises that Beijing has been conducting in the region for many years.
At the same time, China reacted aggressively to criticism from civilized countries, stating that it wants complete reunification with Taiwan and will vigorously repel those countries that help the island with weapons.
