Taiwan's president told trainee officers to prepare for a new kind of war, framing China's growing pressure as the main threat to the island's security.

• Lai Ching-te spoke at a training program launch for army, navy and air force officers at the National Defense University in Taoyuan.
• He said China's threats to its neighbors are getting worse, while AI, drones and space tech are reshaping how wars are fought.
• His message to officers: people first, AI as support, and real combat needs as the standard.
• He laid out three demands — think about global strategy, learn new tech and be willing to change, and lead with responsibility.
• The government promised more money for defense, better pay and better living conditions for troops.

Outlook: Taiwan looks set to keep pushing defense spending and a shift toward drones, AI and asymmetric tactics rather than matching China ship for ship.