President Lai Ching-te said Oct. 9 that Taiwan will continue to ensure peace through strength and boost security through cooperation while working together with allies and partners to advance democracy, peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.
Lai made the remarks while meeting with 2025 Taipei Security Dialogue attendees from Australia, Japan, the U.S. and Europe at the Presidential Office in Taipei City. Themed around integrated deterrence, the event focused on the impact of emerging technologies, the international landscape, the strengthening of social resilience and Taiwan’s strategic role.
According to Lai, the global order has faced severe challenges in recent years stemming from continued authoritarian expansion and rapid technological developments. Standing on the front line of the authoritarian threat, Taiwan aspires to consolidate the strength of democratic countries to advance stable development throughout the region, he said.
Taiwan is committed to strengthening its national defense and security capabilities and enhancing whole-of-society resilience, Lai said, adding that the related budget will exceed 3 percent of the gross domestic product next year. The country will also develop asymmetric capabilities, build a smart defense combat system and promote a more competitive national defense industry to cement Taiwan’s status as a trustworthy security partner for allies and friends.
The president concluded by pledging to advance international cooperation in disaster prevention and relief, national security and technological development. He took the opportunity to thank former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, American Conservative Union Chair Matt Schlapp, American Defense International Chair Van Hipp Jr. and other guests for voicing support for Taiwan.
In response, Morrison noted that Taiwan is making great progress in areas spanning maritime security, missile and drone defense systems, and indigenous defense capabilities. Reiterating his backing of Taiwan, the former prime minister urged the international community to remember lessons learned from the Ukraine invasion and called for solidarity to avoid those outcomes in Taiwan.
Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)
