# Taiwan president to say stronger defences are not a 'provocation'

https://mins.news/en/item/92956

- Reuters, 2026-10-09 10:35 UTC
- Politics
- Original: https://www.reuters.com/world/china/taiwan-president-say-boosting-its-defences-is-not-provocation-2026-10-09/?link_source=ta_bluesky_link&taid=6ac8c35e7858580001465a3f

> Taiwan President Lai Ching-te will say in his national day speech that strengthening defences and spending more on the military are not a “provocation,” but reflect Taiwanese people's hope of preserving peace and freedom, an official said.

## Related coverage

- [Taiwan president says defence spending boost aims to ‘deter war’](https://mins.news/en/item/94207) — Al Jazeera, 2026-10-10
- [Lai Ching-te: Taiwan strengthening its defences does not mean abandoning dialogue](https://mins.news/en/item/94195) — BBC Chinese, 2026-10-10
- [Taiwan holds Double Ten National Day ceremony as Lai prepares to speak](https://mins.news/en/video/94028) — BBC Chinese, 2026-10-09