Taiwan to speed TDome defence and lift budget above 3% of GDP

Taiwan President Lai Chingte on Friday pledged to accelerate construction of a multilayered air defence system dubbed TDome and to raise defence spending sharply as part of measures to deter what he described as mounting military pressure from China. Speaking in Taipei during National Day celebrations, Lai said the government will seek a defence budget exceeding 3 percent of gross domestic product next year and aim for 5 percent by 2030, and promised stronger detection and interception capabilities to protect the island.

"We will accelerate our building of the TDome, establish a rigorous air defence system in Taiwan with multilayered defence, high‑level detection, and effective interception," Lai said in his address, urging Beijing to renounce the use of force or coercion to change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. He also said the government will integrate high‑tech and artificial intelligence into a smart defence system, boost the domestic defence industry, and strengthen supply chains. Presidential aides said a special budget proposal for the new spending will be included by the end of the year.

Details of the TDome have not been released. A senior presidential office...