Taipei – Taiwan has reaffirmed its commitment to defend its sovereignty following large-scale military drills conducted by China near the island.
Speaking in a New Year’s address on Thursday, January 1, 2026, President Lai Ching-te said Taiwan is determined to strengthen its defence capabilities in response to China’s growing military pressure. His remarks came after China fired dozens of rockets and deployed warships and aircraft in exercises close to Taiwan.
President Lai said the international community is closely watching whether the Taiwanese people have the resolve to defend their democracy and freedom. He urged lawmakers to support a proposed $40 billion defence spending plan, which is currently stalled in parliament.
“The year 2026 will be crucial for Taiwan,” Lai said, adding that the country must prepare for the worst while hoping for peace. He also stated that Taiwan is open to dialogue with China, provided it is conducted on an equal and respectful basis and recognises Taiwan’s democratic system.
China strongly criticised Lai’s speech, accusing him of misleading the public. Beijing maintains that Taiwan is part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to assert control.
The Chinese military drills, named “Justice Mission 2025,” were the largest and closest to Taiwan so far, forcing the island to cancel several domestic flights and deploy its own military assets to monitor the situation. The exercises came shortly after the United States approved a record $11.1 billion arms package for Taiwan.
Western allies, including Britain and the European Commission, expressed concern over the drills, warning they could destabilise regional security.
