Taiwan raises defense spending to build air defense to counter China’s threats
By: API Desk | Published: October 11, 2025
Reading Time: 4 minutes
Taipei — Taiwan President Lai Ching-te announced a plan to increase defense spending next year to counter growing threats from China.
Lai also unveiled a multi-layered air defence system called “T-Dome”, similar to Israel’s Iron Dome, to defend the self-rule island of 23 million people.
Taiwan has faced increased military and political pressure from China, which views the island as a renegade province.
In his National Day address, Lai said Taiwan plans to increase defense spending, proposing a special budget for an air defense project.
“The increase in defense spending has a purpose; it is a clear necessity to counter enemy threats and a driving force for developing our defense industries,” he said.
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“We will accelerate our building of the T-Dome, establish a rigorous air defense system in Taiwan with multi-layered defense, high-level detection, and effective interception, and weave a safety net for Taiwan to protect the lives and property of citizens.”
Taiwan celebrates its national day every October 10 as the anniversary of setting up a Chinese republic after the 1911 uprising against the Qing dynasty.
The Republican government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war with Mao Zedong’s communists, and the Republic of China remains the island’s formal name.
Lai did not give details about “T-Dome” in his first public mention of the system.
An aide of Lai official told reporters that the “T-Dome” spending plans would be included in the budget proposal to come by the end of the year.
“We are hoping to build a more thorough air defense net with a higher interception rate,” said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Taiwan’s existing air defense systems are primarily based around the U.S.-made Patriot and the Taiwan-developed Sky Bow missiles.
Taiwan unveiled its latest air defense missile last month at a major arms show in Taipei, called Chiang-Kong, which is designed to intercept mid-level ballistic missiles and reach airspace higher than the Patriots.
A Washington official welcomed Lai’s commitment to increase defense spending.
“We’re not going to speculate on how Beijing might react,” the official said.
“But our general policy is that we don’t think routine speeches should be used as a pretext for taking any sort of coercive or military action,” the official added.
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