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flag Taiwan's president reaffirmed sovereignty defense amid China's large-scale military drills, escalating tensions.

flag Taiwan's President, Lai Ching-te, reaffirmed the island's commitment to defending its sovereignty in a New Year's address amid heightened tensions with China, following large-scale Chinese military drills known as "Justice Mission 2025," which included launching rockets toward Taiwan and deploying warships and aircraft nearby. flag Lai emphasized national defense, societal resilience, and deterrence, proposing a $40 billion increase in defense spending over eight years, though the plan has yet to be approved by the opposition-controlled parliament. flag He emphasized Taiwan's readiness for a peaceful, equal dialogue with China if Beijing recognizes its democratic identity. flag China condemned the drills as necessary for combat readiness and intended to deter outside intervention, especially in light of a $11.1 billion arms sale to Taiwan. flag The exercises disrupted domestic flights and prompted Taiwan's military response, while Western nations expressed concerns about regional stability.

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