Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has warned that if China succeeds in seizing Taiwan, other countries in the Indo-Pacific region would become Beijing’s next targets, as he stressed the urgent need for the island to strengthen its defences significantly.
Warning of wider regional threat
In his first interview with a global news agency since taking office in May 2024, Lai told AFP that China’s annexation of Taiwan would fuel greater aggression, threatening peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific and the rules-based international order.
“If Taiwan were annexed by China, China’s expansionist ambitions would not stop there,” Lai said during the exclusive interview at the Presidential Office Building in Taipei on Tuesday.
He named Japan, the Philippines, and other nations in the region as likely next targets, with eventual effects reaching the Americas and Europe.
Taiwan views its position at the heart of the first island chain — stretching from Japan to the Philippines — as vital for regional security and global trade routes through the Taiwan Strait.
China has ongoing territorial disputes with both Japan and the Philippines, while the strait remains a key artery for international shipping.
Confidence in US support and defence buildup
Lai expressed confidence that Taiwan’s parliament would approve an additional $40 billion defence budget over eight years to fund critical purchases, including weapons from the United States.
He dismissed concerns that the United States might use Taiwan as a bargaining chip in dealings with Beijing, especially ahead of US President Donald Trump’s planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in April.
“We believe President Trump is undertaking a difficult peace-building effort, which entails safeguarding US interests and deterring Chinese expansionism in the short term,” Lai said.
He added that Washington would stand firm with Taiwan and that China seeks far more from the US in trade competition than the reverse.
Lai described US-Taiwan relations as “rock solid” and expressed hope for expanded defence industry cooperation with Europe.
Deterrence remains priority despite internal Chinese changes
Lai acknowledged escalating Chinese military pressure under Xi, including near-daily deployments of warships and fighter jets around Taiwan, along with six large-scale drills since 2022, the most recent in December.
He noted Xi’s recent purge of top generals as an unusual development but said it did not alter Taiwan’s need for constant readiness.
“We must have the capability to deter China’s aggression at any time,” Lai emphasised.
“We want to ensure that, for China, there is never a day that is a good day to invade Taiwan.”
Lai reiterated that Taiwan bears primary responsibility for its own defence. Under US pressure, his government has pledged to raise defence spending above three per cent of GDP this year and to five per cent by 2030.
