Taiwan is to boost investment in national defense to resist authoritarian coercion with a "David versus Goliath" spirit, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday in his speech at a dinner for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
Taiwan would learn from Israel's resolve and capability to staunchly defend its homeland, as appeasement is never the solution to containing authoritarianism, Lai said.
Bringing “peace through strength” is the way to overcome changes and challenges, he said, calling it a principle long upheld by Taiwan, the US and Israel.
Photo provided by the Presidential Office
The nation is to boost defense spending, strengthen the capacity of the domestic national defense industry and build a “T-Dome” system, a rigorous air defense system modeled after Israel's Iron Dome and the US' Golden Dome, he said.
Taiwan is also to procure weaponry and technology to enhance defense capabilities, he said, expressing hope for the committee’s support and assistance.
Apart from national security and diplomatic cooperation, economic investment is a key area where the three countries can strengthen their cooperation during the current global supply chain restructuring, he said.
He expressed a desire for further cooperation with Israel under US President Donald Trump's AI Action Plan.
Taiwan could leverage its strengths as a semiconductor industry hub, combining US and Israeli research and development resources and experience, to deepen cooperation in fields such as semiconductors, ICT and digital security, he said.
Taiwan and the US are firm partners who share the values of democracy and freedom, he said, adding that he was pleased to see the deepening relationship between Taiwan, the US and Israel with bipartisan support.
He also expressed relief over the release of Israeli hostages, calling a ceasefire and the hostages' release the most important development in more than two years, a significant diplomatic achievement for Trump and a major step toward peace in the Middle East.
While Taiwan, the US and Israel are geographically distant, they are on the frontline against authoritarianism, upholding the fundamental values of civilization based on a firm belief in freedom, human rights and the rule of law, he said.
He urged the US, Israel and other allies to continue to be aware of the importance of peace in the Taiwan Strait and its role in global peace and prosperity.
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