Taiwan has announced plans to build a dome-like air defence system, dubbed the “T-Dome”, to protect the island from growing military threats. President William Lai made the announcement on National Day, saying the new system will “weave a safety net” over the nation to guard against “hostile threats”.
Although Lai did not name China directly, his remarks came a day after Taiwan’s defence ministry warned that Beijing is ramping up its capability to launch attacks on the self-ruled island. China, which claims Taiwan as its territory, has not ruled out the use of force to bring it under its control.
The T-Dome project, modelled after Israel’s Iron Dome, will feature multi-layered defence, advanced detection, and interception systems capable of neutralising incoming threats in all weather conditions. Since the outbreak of Israel’s war with Hamas in October 2023, the Iron Dome’s effectiveness in intercepting thousands of rockets has drawn global attention — and now, Taiwan hopes to emulate that success.
President Lai also announced that defence spending will rise to over 3% of Taiwan’s GDP in 2026 and could reach 5% by 2030. However, opposition parties controlling the legislature have blocked several spending bills, complicating funding for the ambitious defence initiative.
Analysts say the T-Dome’s development will be both costly and time-consuming. “If the system is modelled after Israel’s, it will require a massive budget. It won’t be easy,” said Hung-Jen Wang of National Cheng Kung University. Others, like Dennis Weng of Sam Houston State University, suggest the plan may also be aimed at reassuring Washington of Taiwan’s commitment to self-defence.
The United States is legally bound to supply Taiwan with defensive arms, but has long urged Taipei to enhance its own deterrence capabilities. Lai’s remarks also called on China to act responsibly and renounce the use of force, emphasizing lessons from World War II to avoid “the tragedies of history” being repeated.
