Taiwan is set to develop a new multi-layered air defense system, dubbed “T-Dome,” to strengthen its protection against potential military threats from China, President Lai Ching-te announced during his National Day speech on Friday. The initiative comes as tensions escalate across the Taiwan Strait, with China intensifying both political and military pressure on the self-governed island it claims as its territory.
President Lai emphasized that Taiwan’s growing defense spending reflects its firm commitment to national security and the protection of its citizens. He announced plans to propose a special military budget by the end of the year, highlighting that the increased funding will serve as a “driving force for developing domestic defense industries.”
According to Lai, the T-Dome system will form a comprehensive, high-level detection and interception network — a “safety net” designed to shield Taiwan from aerial attacks. While Lai did not provide technical details, sources suggest the T-Dome aims to mirror Israel’s Iron Dome, focusing on multi-layered defense capabilities against missiles and other airborne threats.
Taiwan’s current air defense primarily relies on U.S.-made Patriot missiles and the locally produced Sky Bow system. Recently, the country unveiled its new Chiang-Kong missile, capable of intercepting medium-range ballistic missiles at higher altitudes than existing systems. These advancements underscore Taiwan’s strategy to modernize its defense amid China’s rapid military expansion, including the deployment of stealth fighters, aircraft carriers, and advanced missile systems.
Lai also urged Beijing to renounce the use of force, stressing that peace and stability must prevail to prevent repeating the tragedies of past global conflicts. His remarks coincide with Taiwan’s National Day celebrations, commemorating the 1911 revolution that established the Republic of China — a government that relocated to Taiwan in 1949 after losing the civil war to Mao Zedong’s forces.