President William Lai (賴清德), in his New Year’s Day address yesterday, urged the opposition parties to put national security before partisan politics and swiftly pass a NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.76 billion) special defense budget amid China’s “rising expansionary ambitions.”
“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 the address titled “Island of Resilience — Light of Hope.”
To that end, Lai said that his administration has drafted legal revisions aimed at bolstering national security, and has proposed the special defense budget to strengthen Taiwan’s overall defense posture over the next eight years and boost the domestic weapons manufacturing industry.
Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
“Facing China’s alarming military ambitions, Taiwan has no time to wait and certainly no time to consume ourselves with internal strife,” Lai said.
“We might hold different views on many issues, but without strong and resilient national defense, there will be no country, nor will there be space allowed for us to debate,” he said, adding that this should be a “national consensus across party lines.”
The opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party, which together hold a legislative majority, on Tuesday blocked the review of the special budget for a fifth time, even as China was conducting massive military exercises in five maritime zones and in the airspace around Taiwan.
Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times
In response to a reporter’s question after his speech, Lai said it is a worrying thought that some Taiwan-friendly countries might temper their support based on their perception of Taiwan’s commitment to self-defense, if the opposition parties continue to boycott the special budget.
“Therefore, I very much hope that the opposition parties will allow this budget to pass, to enable us to better protect this country and its people,” he said.
The president told reporters that while the international community was unanimously condemning China’s military drills around Taiwan, “the opposition parties were still finding excuses for China.”
Photo: CNA
“I hope that the ruling and opposition parties will demonstrate unity,” he said. “This is the only way to avoid China getting the wrong message — that it can invade Taiwan.”
Asked about a US report saying that China was preparing to have the capability to win a fight for Taiwan by next year, Lai said that “whether China can achieve its goals on schedule is one thing.”
“The coming year, 2026, will be a crucial one for Taiwan,” he said, adding that Taiwan must “make plans for the worst, but hope for the best.”
Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
“We are willing to engage in exchanges and cooperation with China on an equal and dignified basis, promoting a peaceful and shared environment across the strait,” Lai said. “As long as China acknowledges the existence of the Republic of China, respects the Taiwanese people’s desire for a democratic and free way of life.”
After the address, China said Lai was trying to deceive Taiwanese and mislead the international community.
“William Lai’s address is riddled with lies and reckless assertions, hostility and malice,” a spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said in comments reported by state broadcaster China Central Television.
Asked to comment on the opposition’s move to impeach him, Lai said it was “impossible,” urging lawmakers instead to focus on reviewing budgets.
The impeachment vote, which would require the approval of two-thirds of all lawmakers to advance to the Constitutional Court for deliberation, would be a “waste of time,” he said.
“You know very well that you do not have a two-thirds majority, and yet you tendered the motion anyway,” Lai said, referring to opposition lawmakers.
“You should be spending that precious time reviewing the general budget, the special defense budget and bills that would drive the country’s economic growth,” he said, adding that he hoped lawmakers from opposition parties would clearly explain to the public why they were pursuing impeachment instead.
Additional reporting by Reuters
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