TAIPEI, Taiwan—China is “accelerating” its military preparations to achieve its goal of forcibly seizing Taiwan by 2027, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te warned on Nov. 26, while announcing a special defense budget of $40 billion to confront the Chinese military threats.
Speaking at a press conference in the presidential office, Lai said the budget would be allocated over an eight-year period, from 2026 to 2033, for projects including the construction of a “Taiwan Dome,” an air defense system featuring high-level detection and effective interception capabilities.
“There is no room for compromise on national security,” Lai said, according to a translation of his remarks in Mandarin.
“National sovereignty and the core values of freedom and democracy are the very foundation of our nation….
Taiwan President Announces $40 Billion in New Defense Spending to Counter China
