TAIPEI, Taiwan—President Lai Ching-te pledged to strengthen Taiwan’s defenses and protect sovereignty on Jan. 1, calling for unity at home after China conducted large-scale war games around the island earlier this week.
Lai made the remarks during a New Year’s address, amid a political rift that has prevented his special $40 billion budget for arms purchases, including a proposed air defense system called the Taiwan Dome, from being discussed in the legislature.
“As president, my position has always been clear: to staunchly defend national sovereignty, strengthen national defense, and enhance whole-of-society defense and resilience, and to comprehensively establish robust deterrence and democratic defense mechanisms,” Lai said in Mandarin, according to a translation provided by the presidential office….
Taiwan President Vows to Defend Sovereignty After China’s War Games
