In a New Year’s address given on Wednesday, President Lai Ching-te of Taiwan made a commitment to bolster the island’s defenses amid increasing threats from China. He emphasized that Taiwan plays a vital role in the global “line of defense of democracy.”

China claims sovereignty over Taiwan, a self-governed democracy, and has made clear its intentions to annex the island, potentially by force. In his speech, Lai pointed out the collaborative efforts of authoritarian nations, including China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran, to undermine the established international order, which he asserted poses significant challenges to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.

In recent years, Beijing has adopted various strategies to exert pressure on Taiwan. This includes frequently dispatching military vessels and jets toward the island as well as compelling Taiwan’s diplomatic allies to shift their recognition towards China. In retaliation, Taiwan has been taking steps to modernize its military capabilities and has been procuring arms from the United States, its principal unofficial ally.

“Taiwan must prepare for the worst even in peaceful times. It is essential to continue augmenting our defense budget to enhance national defense capabilities, thereby demonstrating our commitment to safeguarding the nation. Each individual bears the responsibility to protect Taiwan’s democracy and security,” stated Lai.

Additionally, Lai raised concerns over the importance of preserving domestic democracy, touching on recent political clashes within Taiwan. The opposition party, Kuomintang, recently passed three controversial bills that led to a physical altercation among lawmakers. These bills aim to complicate the process for recalling politicians and also alter the budget distribution for the central government. Detractors argue that one of these bills threatens the operational capacity of the Constitutional Court.

Lai’s party has maintained that these legislative moves pose a risk to democratic principles. He emphasized, “While political rivalry is an integral aspect of democracy, it is crucial that such disputes are navigated within a constitutional framework. This approach is essential for the sustainable growth of democracy.”