Taiwan Stands Firm on Sovereignty After China’s Large-Scale Military Drills

Post by : Saif Nasser

Taiwan has strongly reaffirmed its commitment to defend its sovereignty after China carried out major military drills around the island, including the firing of dozens of rockets. The warning message came from Taiwan President Lai Ching-te in his New Year address, delivered live from the presidential office in Taipei.

President Lai said the international community is closely watching to see whether the people of Taiwan have the determination to protect their democratic system and way of life. He made it clear that his position has not changed since taking office: Taiwan will defend its sovereignty and strengthen its national defence.

China’s military drills, named “Justice Mission 2025,” took place just days before Lai’s speech. During the exercises, China deployed large numbers of warships and aircraft and fired rockets toward areas near Taiwan. These were the largest drills by area and the closest to the island so far, forcing Taiwan to cancel dozens of domestic flights and send out its own jets and naval vessels to monitor the situation.

Lai said the drills showed why Taiwan urgently needs to improve its defence capabilities. He called on opposition parties in parliament to support his proposal to increase defence spending by $40 billion. However, the plan remains stalled due to political deadlock in the opposition-controlled legislature.

Calling 2026 a “crucial year” for Taiwan, Lai said the island must prepare for the worst while still hoping for peace. He added that Taiwan remains open to dialogue and cooperation with China, but only on equal and respectful terms. According to Lai, peace is possible if China recognizes the Republic of China (Taiwan) and respects the Taiwanese people’s choice to live in a free and democratic society.

China reacted sharply to Lai’s speech. A spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office accused him of spreading lies and misleading both Taiwanese citizens and the international community. Chinese President Xi Jinping, in his own New Year message, repeated that China’s goal of “reunification” with Taiwan cannot be stopped.

Taipei condemned China’s military drills as a serious threat to regional security and a clear provocation. Western allies, including the European Commission and Britain, also expressed concern over the exercises. China later announced that the drills had ended but said its military would continue to strengthen combat readiness.

The Chinese manoeuvres came shortly after the United States announced a record $11.1 billion arms package for Taiwan. For the first time, China openly said the drills were meant to deter outside intervention.

As tensions remain high, Taiwan’s leadership is signaling both resolve and caution. The message from Taipei is clear: while Taiwan prefers peace and dialogue, it will not back down from defending its sovereignty and democratic values.