Opposition critics have accused Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te of stoking fear on the island with his suggestion that Beijing could be preparing to take Taiwan by force by 2027.
They also said that Lai’s attempt to justify a massive increase in defence spending was nudging Taiwan towards a wartime footing without consensus or clarity.
The controversy erupted after Lai told a press conference on Wednesday that Beijing was pursuing a goal to “complete unification with Taiwan by force by 2027”, a line later amended on his official platforms to specify preparation for such an option rather than a scheduled assault.
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Karen Kuo, a spokeswoman for Lai’s office, insisted 2027 was not a “confirmed invasion date” but a capability benchmark cited in US congressional and think-tank assessments. Still, the political blast radius was immediate.
The office later blamed the media for misunderstanding.
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Opposition Taiwan People’s Party spokeswoman Chang Tung said Lai’s wording was “shocking and disruptive”, triggering unnecessary anxiety – and the media was not to blame.