ASIATODAY.ID, TAIPEI — President Lai Ching-te declared that national defense is not a partisan issue but a matter of sovereignty, survival, and Taiwan’s future as a self-governing democracy.
He called on all political parties to unite behind a special defense budget bill aimed at strengthening the island’s security amid rising external pressure.
Speaking at a press conference at the Presidential Office on February 11, President Lai delivered an address titled “National Security Cannot Wait! Support the Special Defense Procurement Bill.”
He stressed that while political competition is natural in a democracy, safeguarding national defense must transcend party lines.
The government has proposed an eight-year Special Defense Budget focused on accelerating military modernization and enhancing asymmetric warfare capabilities across seven major categories.
The initiative is guided by what Lai described as “new training, new thinking, new equipment, and new technologies,” reinforcing Taiwan’s long-term defense resilience.
“As political parties may compete, national defense concerns the country’s sovereignty and survival. All sides must stand together in the face of external challenges,” Lai emphasized.
He pledged full transparency in how the proposed funds would be allocated and used.
President Lai urged both ruling and opposition lawmakers in the Legislative Yuan to resume substantive deliberations once the Lunar New Year recess concludes and to expedite passage of the bill.
A unified political front, he said, would serve as the strongest backing for Taiwan’s armed forces and its commitment to regional peace.
At the international level, Lai noted a broad consensus that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are indispensable to global security and prosperity.
Facing intensifying military pressure from China, countries across the Indo-Pacific have significantly increased their defense spending. Japan’s defense budget this year stands at approximately NTD 1.8 trillion, South Korea’s at NTD 1.4 trillion, while the Philippines has also expanded its military allocation.
“Taiwan cannot be the exception,” Lai stated, underscoring the proposed total of NTD 1.25 trillion over eight years as a necessary and responsible investment in national security.
He reiterated that Taiwan has no intention of invading any country. Strengthening defense capabilities, he said, is not provocation but a firm commitment to protecting the democratic way of life cherished by the Taiwanese people.
“We may hold ideals about peace, but we must not harbor illusions. A piece of paper cannot guarantee peace — only strength can ensure genuine peace. Preparing for war is what prevents war. Possessing credible combat capability is what deters conflict,” President Lai concluded.
With this stance, Taiwan reaffirms its determination to safeguard its sovereignty, uphold democratic values, and contribute responsibly to regional stability and global security. (AT Network)
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