Lai Ching-te admits "China's goal to unify Taiwan by 2027" complete verbatim transcript of the press conference.

Taiwan's President Lai Qingde held a press conference at the presidential palace on the “Action Plan for Safeguarding Democratic Taiwan's National Security”, directly acknowledging that China will complete the military unification in 2027 and will increase the special defense budget in response to the situation. (Synopsis: What is the Taiwan disease? The horror balance that The Economist didn't understand: Life insurance, tax system and real estate jointly kidnapped the New Taiwan dollar) (Background supplement: The Economist diagnoses “Taiwan disease” The New Taiwan dollar is too depreciated, not a disease but a financial defense? On November 26, 2025, Taiwanese President Lai Qingde held a press conference on the “Action Plan for Safeguarding Democratic Taiwan's National Security” at the Presidential Palace. In the face of China's increasing gray zone intrusion, targeted military exercises, and the dire situation of spreading the threat to the second island chain, President Lai Qingde personally announced two major action plans: “firmly safeguarding national sovereignty and comprehensively building a democratic defense mechanism” and “promoting the strengthening of national defense combat capabilities and building defense-related industries in an all-round way.” During the meeting, Defense Minister Gu Lixiong explained that the Taiwan authorities will set up a “special budget for strengthening defense resilience and asymmetric combat capabilities” for a period of eight years (2026-2033) with a total ceiling of about 1.25 trillion yuan, aiming to build a “shield of Taiwan”, introduce AI high-tech to accelerate the kill chain, and build a non-red supply chain. Minister of Economy Guo Zhihui gave a briefing on the economic benefits driven by the defense industry, especially the development of the UAV, aerospace and satellite industries. The following is the complete verbatim record of the press conference: 【Press conference starts】 Moderator: Dear media friends and Chinese friends who are watching the live broadcast online, good morning. Let us welcome President Lai, Vice President Xiao, President Zhuo of the Executive Yuan, Secretary General Pan of the Presidential Office, Secretary General Wu of the National Security Council, Minister Gu of the Ministry of National Defense, and Minister Guo of the Ministry of Economic Affairs attended the press conference. I would like to ask the governors to take their seats first. At the beginning of today's press conference on the “Action Plan for Safeguarding Democratic Taiwan's National Security,” we asked the president to make a statement on the special defense budget. President Lai Qingde: Vice President Xiao Meiqin, President Zhuo Rongtai of the Executive Yuan, Secretary General Pan Meng'an of the Presidential Office, Secretary General Wu Zhaoxie of the National Security Council, Minister Gu Lixiong of the Ministry of National Defense, Minister Guo Zhihui of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, colleagues, as well as dear compatriots and media friends at the scene, hello. Earlier today, I convened a high-level meeting of the national security team to listen to the national security team on the current national security situation. The Beijing authorities' recent all-round efforts to turn “democratic Taiwan” into “China's Taiwan” have posed a serious threat to China's national security and Taiwan's freedom and democracy. After full discussion, we developed two “National Security Action Plans for Safeguarding Democratic Taiwan” as concrete response strategies. The following is my report to the countrymen. As internationally concerned, China's threat to Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific region is intensifying. Recently, in Japan, the Philippines and around the Taiwan Strait, various types of military intrusion, maritime gray zones, disinformation cognitive operations and other compound threats have continued, which has deeply disturbed and troubled all parties in China and other regions. Not only that, the Beijing authorities are also aiming to complete the “military reunification of Taiwan” by 2027, accelerate the military preparation for aggression against Taiwan, continue to escalate exercises around Taiwan and gray belt intrusion, in an attempt to “force reunification by force” and “force surrender” to annex Taiwan. In addition to force, China is escalating legal, psychological and public opinion warfare in an attempt to eliminate Taiwan's sovereignty in the world. Moreover, through “opposing independence and promoting reunification” and “cross-border suppression”, they attempted to encroach on the jurisdiction of the Republic of China government and create the illusion of substantive governance of Taiwan. Within Taiwan, China is increasing the penetration and division of the united front, confusing the national identity of the Chinese people, weakening our unity, in order to impose the goals of “one country, two systems for Taiwan” and “governing Taiwan if you are patriotic.” The purpose of these actions is to imprison the free and prosperous “democratic Taiwan” that shines on the world stage into the authoritarian and authoritarian “Taiwan of China”, and achieve the ambition of annexing Taiwan and dominating the Indo-Pacific region. In response to the unprecedented severe situation, the national security team has planned two major action plans to comprehensively respond to the urgent national security threat and fully protect the “democratic Taiwan”. The first course of action is: “Firmly safeguard national sovereignty and comprehensively build a democratic defense mechanism.” I would like to reiterate that “democratic Taiwan” is a sovereign and independent country. Nationals and international friends call our country the Republic of China, Taiwan or the Republic of China Taiwan. The Republic of China and the People's Republic of China are not subordinate to each other, and Taiwan's sovereignty brooks no infringement and annexation. The future of Taiwan, Republic of China, is determined by the 23 million people of Taiwan, and that is the status quo we want to defend. Therefore, we resolutely oppose China's distortion of General Assembly Resolution 2758 and its use of World War II historical documents to falsify historical facts and falsely claim that Taiwan is part of the People's Republic of China. While speeding up the military rearmament of Taiwan, China has also stepped up its efforts to promote compulsory reunification in the name of “false peace and in the name of peace” internationally, cross-strait and in various fields, in an attempt to turn Taiwan into a part of China's jurisdiction. There is no room for compromise on national security. The core values of national sovereignty and freedom and democracy are the foundation of our statehood, and have nothing to do with ideological disputes, let alone disputes over reunification and independence, but disputes over whether we should defend “democratic Taiwan” and refuse to submit to “China's Taiwan.” This is the common position of the people of Taiwan. In order to defend sovereignty and build a strong democratic defense mechanism, our specific actions are: First, the national security team will work with relevant ministries to set up regular task forces. Taking “democratic Taiwan” versus “Chinese Taiwan” as the main axis, we will develop an action plan, through international and domestic strategic communication, historical narrative, counter-legal warfare and other diversified means, combined with the whole society and friendly countries, to show the world our determination and will to safeguard democratic Taiwan and firmly safeguard the status quo, and comprehensively counter Beijing's hegemonic acts that undermine the status quo, such as trying to eliminate the sovereignty of the Republic of China and confiscate the freedom of the Taiwan people. Second, facts and truth are the basis for democratic countries to build social trust and strengthen national identity. The Executive Yuan will assess the interference and possible impact of China's intervention during various major governance and election periods, and through the disclosure of facts and the full flow of correct information, strengthen the awareness and vigilance of all walks of life on Beijing's interference in China's internal affairs and promote compulsory unification, strengthen our national identity, and unite internally and externally. Third, the 17-point strategy of “responding to China's United Front infiltration and national security threats” released and implemented in March this year has achieved initial results. The government will continue to implement and accelerate the promotion of national security amendments, legislation and related administrative measures to strengthen the maintenance of national security. Fourth, with regard to China's cross-border repression of the people of Taiwan, the Executive Yuan will work with the National Security Council to take concrete measures to effectively counteract, including establishing victim notification and protection mechanisms, strengthening strategic communication with friendly countries and international organizations, strengthening transnational protection of potential victims, and improving the legal system. Those who assist China in its cross-border repression and harm the local cooperation of the state and its people will be severely punished. Fifth, all polls have always shown that the Chinese people overwhelmingly oppose China's “one country, two systems Taiwan proposal” for reunification. Through government policy announcements, legislative court resolutions, and the collective actions of political parties and civil society organizations, we should jointly establish that the “one country, two systems Taiwan solution” is an untouchable red line in Taiwanese society. On this basis, domestic political parties, corporate bodies, civil society organizations, etc. will conduct exchanges and political dialogues with China, establish institutional norms, and prevent China from using Taiwan's internal contradictions to promote compulsory reunification based on the principles of democratic governance and transparency. Next, I would like to explain the second action plan to the Chinese people: “Promote the strengthening of national defense combat capabilities and build defense-related industries in an all-round way.” Peace must depend on strength. To invest in national defense is to invest in security and peace. In the face of China's rising military threats and hegemonic ambitions to the region and China, Indo-Pacific democracies such as Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and even Australia are gradually forming "island chain defense, responsibility sharing…