TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) announced in a Washington Post op-ed that he will propose a NT$1.25 trillion (US$40 billion) special defense budget to procure US weapons, drawing praise from a congressional committee and former senior US officials.
Lai said that for over 40 years, the Taiwan Relations Act and Reagan’s Six Assurances have anchored US–Taiwan efforts to preserve peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, per CNA. “Together, we have recognized that safeguarding freedom and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific requires clarity and strength,” said Lai.
He said China’s extraordinary military buildup, coupled with rising provocations in the Taiwan Strait, East China Sea, South China Sea, and broader Indo-Pacific, exposes regional vulnerabilities. “Beijing’s willingness to alter the status quo by force has become increasingly evident,” he warned.
Lai expressed gratitude for US President Donald Trump’s emphasis on America’s vital role in global leadership. He said that the Trump administration’s “peace through strength” approach has made the international community safer, noting, “A strong and engaged America remains a cornerstone for global stability, keeping potential conflict at bay.”
He said Taiwan is equally committed to ensuring Indo-Pacific security. Despite record-high PLA incursions near Taiwan and exercises beyond the first island chain, “Taiwan has remained steadfast, acting with firm resolve against the threats and challenges faced.”
“To further make good on our commitments, I am significantly increasing Taiwan’s defense budget,” he vowed. Defense spending is expected to rise to 3.3% of GDP next year, with a pledge to reach 5% by 2030, “representing the largest sustained military investment in Taiwan’s modern history.”
As part of this effort, Lai said the government will propose a NT$1.25 trillion special defense budget. The funds will support major US military procurements and enhance Taiwan’s asymmetric capabilities, adding “greater costs and uncertainty to Beijing’s decision-making process regarding the use of force, thereby enhancing deterrence.”
He stressed that Taiwan’s commitment to peace and stability is unwavering. No country will be more determined in safeguarding Taiwan’s future than our own,” said Lai.
Looking ahead, Taiwan will invest in advanced technologies and expand its defense industrial base. The country will work with like-minded partners, leverage its manufacturing strengths to reinforce defense supply chains, accelerate deployment of advanced systems, and respond quickly to emerging threats.
Lai said the government is accelerating construction of the T-Dome to defend against missiles, rockets, drones, and aircraft. Combined with AI-driven and unmanned platforms, these capabilities will move Taiwan closer to the vision of an “unassailable Taiwan,” while deepening domestic and international security cooperation.
To maintain cross-strait stability, he said, Taiwan must raise the cost of military escalation while lowering the threshold for de-escalation. The risks of conflict must always outweigh the price of peace, reflected in the pace of Taiwan’s defense reforms.
Taiwan will continue to seek dialogue with Beijing, but “our democracy and freedom remain nonnegotiable,” he said. The president pledged to ensure Taiwan’s security and sovereignty are “defended not just by rhetoric but through robust, decisive action.”
In closing, Lai wrote that both Trump and Reagan understood the importance of “peace through strength.” Despite the challenges, “Taiwan’s resolve has never been stronger,” and by working with the US and like-minded democracies, “we are confident that peace will prevail.”
The US House Foreign Affairs Committee shared the op-ed on X, calling Lai’s proposed defense package “a huge stride” for Taiwan’s self-defense and Indo-Pacific security. It said the plan demonstrates that Taiwan is a crucial partner “willing to ante up serious resources toward defeating regional adversaries.”
Former US National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien praised Lai’s op-ed on X, calling it a “major win for Taiwan and also a triumph for Trump.” O’Brien concluded that Lai is ”making all the right moves.”
Retired US Navy Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery lauded Lai for his “fantastic article and plan.” He called it a “true Peace Through Strength initiative,” citing the NT$1.25 trillion modernization fund, integrated air defense, and societal resilience measures, and stressed that this effort deserves the full support of the US.
