📋 Tender Overview
On November 25, an op-ed penned by President Lai Ching-te entitled I will boost defense spending to protect our democracy was published by The Washington Post, explaining to a global audience Taiwans firm resolve to strengthen its self-defense capabilities. The article also notes that Taiwans government will continue to boost military investment and recently introduced a historic US$40 billion supplementary defense budget, underscoring its commitment to defending Taiwans democracy. In addition to investing in the national defense industry and cutting-edge technologies, Taiwan is accelerating the development of the T-Dome, a multilayered, integrated defense system designed to protect Taiwan from PLA missiles, rockets, drones, and combat aircraft. Taiwan will also expand cooperation with like-minded countries to support a shared deterrence architecture across the Indo-Pacific. Furthermore, Taiwan will broaden coordination both domestically and with international partners, and improve collaboration between government, military, and civic groups so that society can better respond to disasters, both manmade and natural. The president emphasized that Taiwan and the United States share the conviction of peace through strength, and that Taiwan will ensure its sovereignty, democracy, and freedom are defended through robust, decisive action.
The following is the full text of President Lais article:
For more than four decades, the enduring foundations laid by the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act and reinforced by President Ronald Reagans Six Assurances have guided Taiwan and the United States in jointly upholding peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Together, we have recognized that safeguarding freedom and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific requires clarity and strength.
Today, these principles remain as vital as ever. The Peoples Republic of Chinas unprecedented military buildup, combined with intensifying provocations in the Taiwan Strait, East and South China Seas and across the Indo-Pacific, have highlighted the fragility of peace in the region. Beijings willingness to alter the status quo by force has become increasingly evident.
We are grateful that President Donald Trump has made clear the importance of American leadership around the world. The international community is safer today because of the Trump administrations pursuit of peace through strength. A strong and engaged America remains a cornerstone for global stability, keeping potential conflict at bay.
Taiwan is equally committed to keeping the Indo-Pacific region safe. Despite record Peoples Liberation Army incursions into Taiwans vicinity -- and military drills probing past what is known as the First Island Chain, extending from Japan to the Philippine archipelago -- Taiwan has remained steadfast, acting with firm resolve against the threats and challenges faced.
To further make good on our commitments, I am significantly increasing Taiwans defense budget. In response to growing pressure from Beijing, our defense spending, which has already doubled in recent years, is expected to rise to 3.3 percent of gross domestic product by next year. I am committed to lifting this baseline to 5 percent by 2030, representing the largest sustained military investment in Taiwans modern history.
As part of this effort, my government will introduce a historic $40 billion supplementary defense budget, an investment that underscores our commitment to defending Taiwans democracy. This landmark package will not only fund significant new arms acquisitions from the United States, but also vastly enhance Taiwans asymmetrical capabilities. In doing so, we aim to bolster deterrence by inserting greater costs and uncertainties into Beijings decision-making on the use of force.
My message here is clear: Taiwans dedication to peace and stability is unwavering. No country will be more determined in safeguarding Taiwans future than our own.
Looking forward, we will also invest in cutting-edge technologies and expand Taiwans defense industrial base. Partnering with like-minded countries, we will leverage Taiwans manufacturing strengths to reinforce defense supply chains, accelerate the deployment of advanced systems and rapidly respond to emerging threats -- all while creating new jobs at home and abroad.
As part of this, I am accelerating the development of T-Dome, a multilayered, integrated defense system designed to protect Taiwan from PLA missiles, rockets, drones, and combat aircraft. Together with other AI-driven and unmanned platforms, these capabilities bring us closer to the vision of an unassailable Taiwan, safeguarded by innovation and technology.
Furthermore, we will broaden coordination both domestically and with international partners. Last year, we established a top-level Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee, improving collaboration between government, military, and civic groups so that our society can better respond to disasters, both manmade and natural. These preparations will continue to intensify.
We will continue to pursue closer security ties with trusted partners and allies. We are grateful that the international community has continued to speak out forcefully for peace across the Taiwan Strait. Recent statements from Japan, the U.S., Europe, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and the Group of Seven have all contributed to deterrence in the region. We will further cooperate across maritime, cybersecurity, resilience and other domains that support a shared deterrence architecture across the Indo-Pacific.
Cross-strait stability is best served when we heighten the costs of military escalation, while minimizing the threshold of de-escalation. The risks of conflict must always outweigh the price for peace. This is underscored by the pace of our defense reforms and my firm determination to uphold the cross-strait status quo.
While we will continue to pursue opportunities for cross-strait dialogue, with the understanding that our democracy
