Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te delivered one of his strongest national security warnings to date, saying Beijing is moving at “full speed” to prepare the military capabilities needed to seize Taiwan by force within the next three years. Speaking at a high-stakes press briefing, Lai announced a sweeping supplementary defense budget worth 1.25 trillion New Taiwan dollars — roughly 40 billion U.S. dollars — designed to strengthen the island’s combat readiness, expand weapons procurement, and reinforce military infrastructure.

The expanded budget marks one of the largest single-year boosts in Taiwan’s modern history and comes at a time when Chinese military activity around the island has intensified to unprecedented levels.

Rising Military Pressure and “Gray-Zone” Tactics

Lai said China has sharply increased its incursions near Taiwan, including naval movements, warplane flights, cyber intrusions, and what he described as “gray-zone harassment” — coercive activities meant to exhaust Taiwan’s defenses without triggering open conflict.

According to regional analysts, Chinese military jets have conducted hundreds of flights into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone this year alone. Beijing’s naval presence has also grown, with advanced destroyers and aircraft carriers frequently operating in waters surrounding the island.

Lai warned that these actions form part of a broader strategy aimed at preparing China’s armed forces to reach full operational capability for a potential invasion by 2027 — a timeline that aligns with U.S. intelligence assessments.

Beijing’s Influence Campaign and Regional Provocations

Beyond military maneuvers, Lai accused Beijing of intensifying its political infiltration efforts, describing a coordinated campaign to sway Taiwanese public opinion, spread disinformation, and influence domestic institutions.

He highlighted what he called an “unprecedented military buildup” by Beijing, paired with rising provocations throughout the Taiwan Strait, the East China Sea, the South China Sea, and the broader Indo-Pacific region. Analysts note that China’s defense spending rose 7.2 percent this year, reaching roughly 245 billion dollars — more than four times Taiwan’s total defense expenditure.

Beijing insists Taiwan is part of its sovereign territory and has repeatedly stated that unification with the mainland is inevitable. Taiwan has firmly rejected those claims and maintains that its future must be decided by its people.

Diplomatic Tensions With Japan and Global Reactions

The president’s remarks follow escalating diplomatic friction between Beijing and Tokyo. China accused Japan of interfering in its internal affairs after Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said earlier this month that any Chinese military action against Taiwan could represent a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan. Beijing labeled the comments “egregious” and demanded a withdrawal.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump recently held separate calls with both Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japan’s Prime Minister. Experts believe Xi may have used the conversation to encourage Washington to help temper Japan’s increasingly firm stance on Taiwan-related issues.

Shortly before Lai’s announcement, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office reiterated its opposition to any foreign support for what it calls Taiwanese independence efforts, directing criticism at Lai’s Democratic Progressive Party for allegedly undermining the island’s economic and political future.

Taiwan’s Goal: Combat-Ready by 2027

Lai’s new defense package aims to significantly strengthen Taiwan’s preparedness, with a focus on missile systems, naval defense, counter-invasion planning, and enhanced reserve-force mobilization. The government says the objective is clear: achieve a high level of operational readiness by 2027, the same year Beijing is believed to be targeting for potential military action.

China’s foreign ministry declined immediate comment on Lai’s statements, but the message from Taipei was unambiguous — Taiwan intends to bolster its defenses, counter Beijing’s influence campaigns, and protect its democratic system amid the mounting geopolitical pressures surrounding the island.