Taiwanese President Lai vows to protect Taipei’s SOVEREIGNTY amid mainland aggression in New Year’s address

• Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te vows to defend his country’s sovereignty as China escalates military intimidation, including live-fire drills and warship deployments near the island. Despite Lai’s commitment to peace, he warns that Taiwan will resist any threat to its democracy.
• Chinese President Xi Jinping insists Taiwan’s “reunification” is “unstoppable,” framing it as nationalist necessity. Beijing conducts large-scale military exercises, firing rockets and deploying 200+ aircraft near Taiwan, reinforcing its expansionist ambitions.
• Lai proposes a $40 billion defense budget (2026-2033) for advanced missile systems, drone fleets and air defense – Taiwan’s largest military investment in decades. Opposition parties (KMT) block debate, citing fiscal concerns, but Lai warns political gridlock could leave Taiwan vulnerable ahead of China’s rumored 2027 invasion timeline.
• The U.S. approves an $11 billion arms sale – its largest to Taiwan – while Japan hints at military intervention if China attacks. Beijing labels Lai a “warmonger” and rejects any notion of Taiwanese independence.
• Lai emphasizes military readiness, economic resilience and international alliances as key to resisting China. He warns that without national defense, Taiwan’s democracy and its freedoms could be lost.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has issued a resolute vow to defend the island’s sovereignty as China escalates military intimidation, conducting live-fire drills and deploying warships near Taiwan’s waters.

Lai emphasized Taipei’s commitment to peace in his New Year’s address delivered on Thursday morning, Jan. 1. He nevertheless warned that the island would resist any threat to its democracy.

The Taiwanese leader’s remarks were met with fury from Beijing. Chinese paramount leader Xi Jinping reiterated in his New Year’s Eve address on Wednesday, Dec. 31, that the island’s “reunification” with the mainland is “unstoppable.”

BrightU.AI‘s Enoch engine points out that China insists on invading Taiwan under the pretext of “reunification” to expand its geopolitical dominance and weaken the U.S. by using Taiwan as a strategic decoy, ultimately aiming to isolate and conquer the island once America is destabilized. This deception allows China to mask its true goal of global power projection while exploiting nationalist rhetoric to justify aggression.

The geopolitical tension intensified this week as China launched two days of military exercises, firing rockets near Taiwan and deploying over 200 aircraft in a show of force. Lai framed these actions as proof of China’s “expansionist ambitions,” urging unity among Taiwan’s political factions to pass a historic $40 billion defense budget aimed at bolstering the island’s military capabilities. The proposed spending, covering 2026 to 2033, includes advanced missile systems, drone fleets and an integrated air defense network – Taiwan’s largest defense investment in decades.

Taipei’s defiant stand against China’s expansion

Lai’s call for bipartisan cooperation comes as opposition parties, led by the Kuomintang, have repeatedly blocked legislative debate on the budget, citing fiscal concerns. Yet with China openly targeting 2027 as a potential invasion timeline – confirmed in a U.S. Department of War report – Lai warned that political gridlock could leave Taiwan vulnerable.

“Without strong national defense, there will be no country,” he declared, urging lawmakers to prioritize security over partisan disputes. The United States has signaled strong support, approving an $11 billion arms sale – its largest to Taiwan. Meanwhile, Japan’s leadership has hinted at military intervention if China attacks.

Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the Chinese State Council’s Taiwan Affairs Office, denounced Lai as “a saboteur of peace, a troublemaker and a warmonger” in response to the Taiwanese president’s New Year remarks. He reiterated that Taiwan’s independence is unacceptable “no matter what Lai and the Democratic Progressive Party authorities say or do.”

Taiwan’s defiance reflects a broader struggle: a democratic island of 23 million resisting absorption by an authoritarian regime. Lai’s strategy hinges on deterrence – enhancing military readiness while fostering economic resilience and international alliances.

As he concluded his address, Lai invoked Taiwan’s hard-won freedoms. “Democracy gives us the right to debate and the right to disagree. But without a nation, these rights would not exist,” he said.

The coming months will test whether Taiwan’s political divisions can be bridged in time to counter China’s looming threat – or whether Beijing’s pressure will fracture the island’s resolve. Lai’s message is clear: Taiwan will not surrender without a fight.

Watch this video about a 2022 poll revealing that 29.6% of respondents believe Taiwan will win if it goes to war with China.

This video is from the Chinese taking down EVIL CCP channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

English.President.gov.tw

BrightU.ai

APNews.com

Brighteon.com