TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) reaffirmed his goal to bolster national defense during a temple ceremony in Taichung on Saturday.
Lai said that in the face of continued harassment by Chinese military aircraft, the government has been strengthening defense through foreign military procurement and by promoting defense self-reliance, according to the Presidential Office.
The proposed NT$1.25 trillion (US$40 billion) special defense budget focuses on investing in indigenous capabilities, such as drones, robots, and unmanned systems, Lai said. These endeavors enhance overall defense capabilities and drive the development of the defense industry, the president said, per the Presidential Office.
Lai added that the international community also places great importance on the situation in the Taiwan Strait. In recent years, G7 leaders’ summits have repeatedly emphasized that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are indispensable to global security and prosperity.
In her recent visit to the US, Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae and President Donald Trump issued a joint statement stressing the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and opposing any attempt to change the status quo by force or coercion, Lai said.
Lai said that the government is working hard on all fronts and will continue looking out for the well-being of the people.
