Taipei: President Lai Ching-te said Taiwan must continue to raise the cost of aggression and strengthen its indigenous defense capabilities to deter China, stressing that peace can only be secured through strength, in an exclusive interview with Sanlih E-Television that aired Sunday.
According to Focus Taiwan, addressing claims by U.S. defense officials that Chinese President Xi Jinping has instructed the People's Liberation Army to be ready for a Taiwan invasion by 2027, Lai said what's important is Taiwan's response. "If China sets 2027 as the year to be ready for an invasion of Taiwan, then we have only one choice: to keep raising the difficulty so that China can never meet that standard. Taiwan will naturally remain safe," Lai stated during the interview with "History and Herstory" host Cheng Hung-yi.
Lai highlighted that China's ambition to annex Taiwan has been a long-standing national policy, referencing past conflicts such as the 1949 Battle of Guningtou and the 1958 Taiwan Strait Crisis. He noted that Taiwan has remained secure for decades because China lacked the capability to act, emphasizing that the interview took place at the defense ministry's 209th Arsenal, a key facility for producing wheeled armored vehicles like the CM-32 "Clouded Leopard."
He explained that the geographical challenge of crossing the Taiwan Strait adds to the difficulty, contrasting it with Russia's direct tank invasion of Ukraine. However, he cautioned against complacency and advocated for a continued buildup of Taiwan's defense capabilities.
The president reiterated his administration's stance of not provoking China while remaining committed to maintaining the status quo. He emphasized that peace must be backed by strength rather than relying on agreements or goodwill, citing historical examples where negotiations without leverage led to surrender.
Lai also mentioned the growing international consensus on the importance of Taiwan's security, noting that G7 leaders have repeatedly affirmed that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are crucial to global security and prosperity. He stated that China's threat is not only Taiwan's problem but an international issue, particularly for countries in the Indo-Pacific region.
He highlighted increased defense spending by Japan, South Korea, Australia, the Philippines, and European Union members as a sign of a broader move toward collective defense. Within this context, Lai stressed that Taiwan must take responsibility for its own security by strengthening defense and investing in indigenous capabilities, enabling Taiwan to design, manufacture, maintain, and upgrade its own weapons systems.
His administration is advancing a multi-year special defense budget aimed at building a multilayered "T-Dome" air defense network, developing an AI-enabled battlefield intelligence support system, and accelerating the upgrading and transformation of Taiwan's domestic defense industries. Lai noted that developing indigenous defense industries would enhance security and drive long-term economic growth.
Lai stated that Taiwan already has a strong heavy-industry base and plans to expand defense self-reliance across various areas, from aerospace and satellite communications to ammunition, drones, unmanned surface vessels, unmanned underwater vehicles, and robotics. Taiwanese firms have already joined major global supply chains in the United States and Europe, the president noted.
"Taiwan's industries are ready," Lai said, urging opposition parties to support defense spending in the interest of national security.