TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan must show the world it can deter and defeat any enemy aggression, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said at a military event on Wednesday.
“Only if we are willing to defend ourselves can we gain the support and assistance of the international community,” Lai said, per the Presidential Office.
He urged the military’s leadership to strengthen basic unit training and joint capabilities. Leadership should also develop a range of strategies to counter adversaries and leverage technology and artificial intelligence, to build an “effective, reliable, and modernized” defense force, he added.
Lai called on all personnel to keep working toward this goal and to instill this mindset throughout every unit.
The president said the government’s proposed NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.5 billion) special defense budget is intended for US military procurements and bolstering Taiwan’s asymmetric defense. Opposition lawmakers blocked a review of the budget for the eighth time last week.
Taiwan must continue to strengthen its defense capabilities and economic resilience to maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region and protect Taiwan’s democracy and freedom, Lai said.
