According to four sources who spoke to Reuters, Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te is expected to announce a new, advanced “comprehensive” air defense system in his Double Ten Day speech on Friday, October 10th. The aim of this system is to enhance Taiwan’s defense against potential attacks from the People’s Republic of China.
Over the years, Taiwan has faced increasing military and political pressure from China. Despite never having been ruled by the Chinese Communist Party, China has repeatedly expressed its intentions to bring Taiwan under its control, even resorting to the threat of military force. The Taiwanese government asserts that only the Taiwanese people have the right to determine their own future.
In response to China’s military intimidation and threats, Taiwan has been increasing its defense spending and modernizing its armed forces to strengthen its self-defense capabilities.
Insiders have revealed that President Lai Ching-te is expected to introduce an air defense system named “Taiwan Iron Dome” in his Double Ten Day speech. This system will integrate domestically produced and imported equipment, utilizing smart technology for comprehensive system integration.
The sources also mentioned that the system will help counter increasingly complex threats such as combined attacks from drones, rockets, missiles, and military aircraft. Similar to Israel’s “Iron Dome” missile defense network, which has been utilized to fend off attacks from groups like Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Iran, Taiwan’s society can operate more flexibly and normally with the assistance of the “Taiwan Iron Dome.”
The planning of the new system is currently in the drafting phase, and the “initial integration” is set to commence soon, although further details have not been disclosed.
Given the sensitivity of the situation, all four sources requested anonymity when speaking to Reuters. The President’s Office of Taiwan has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Following President Lai’s Double Ten Day speech last year, China conducted a one-day military exercise near Taiwan, claiming it was a warning against “secessionist activities.” Taiwan is closely monitoring China’s activities in hopes of detecting any early warning signs similar to last year’s exercise.
The “Iron Dome” system, a prized possession of Israel, was jointly developed by Israel’s state-owned Rafael Advanced Defense Systems company and the American company Raytheon. After President Trump returned to the White House in January, he signed an executive order instructing the Pentagon to develop a reference framework and implementation plan for the next-generation missile defense system, inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome, known as the “Golden Dome” defense system.
Israel’s “Iron Dome” system primarily addresses short-range threats, whereas the United States seeks to defend against intercontinental and submarine-launched weapons.