Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te on Friday announced a new, multilayered air defense network, dubbed the “T-Dome,” as his government accelerates development of indigenous defense systems amid growing military pressure from China. China claims Taiwan as its territory and has sharply increased military activity around the island, including seven large-scale exercises over the past five years, to pressure Lai’s Democratic Progressive Party government.
In response, Taipei has extended mandatory military service from four months to one year, boosted arms purchases from its top supplier, the United States, and modestly raised defense spending—measures that have met stiff resistance from opposition lawmakers.
