Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te said on National Day that the aim of increasing defense spending is to deter war, not to provoke.

Lai's government has earmarked a record NT$1.1 trillion (US$34.5 billion) in defense spending for 2027, more than 3% of GDP. Lai said China continues to press with military and grey-zone activities in an attempt to alter the status quo across the Taiwan Strait.