Taiwan President Cites Israel Defense Model Amid Rising Tensions

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has drawn a strong parallel between Taiwan's defense challenges and Israel's resilience, invoking the biblical story of David versus Goliath to emphasize standing up to authoritarianism, particularly from China. Speaking at a dinner hosted by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in Taipei, Lai praised Israel's determination and capacity to defend its territory as a valuable model for Taiwan, underscoring the shared values of freedom, human rights, and the rule of law among Taiwan, the U.S., and Israel. He announced plans to increase Taiwan's defense spending and highlighted the development of the "T-Dome," a multilayered missile defense system inspired by Israel's Iron Dome and U.S. missile defense initiatives. While Israel and Taiwan maintain strong unofficial ties, including de facto embassies, formal diplomatic relations do not exist due to complex geopolitical factors involving China. The AIPAC event marked a significant moment in Taiwan–Israel–U.S. relations, with President Lai expressing optimism about enhanced trilateral cooperation in security, technology, and trade to promote peace and stability in the region. Additionally, Israel's Knesset showed support for Taiwan's inclusion in key international organizations, reflecting the deepening partnership amid ongoing regional tensions.