Taiwan welcomed 2026 with fireworks at Taipei 101, a sunrise flag-raising ceremony at the Presidential Office and President Lai’s New Year’s Day speech.

“There is no place Taiwanese people cannot reach and no achievement we cannot attain,” Lai said in his morning remarks.

But he had warnings, too, after China ended its “Justice Mission 2025” military drills around Taiwan on Wednesday night, and as Taiwan’s ruling and opposition parties remain locked in a stalemate over issues including defense spending.

Reporters: Cadence Quaranta/Sara Conway
Videographers: Scott Huang/Ryan Wu
Video Editor: Eric Tsai

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