Taiwan President Lai Ching-tey announced a $40 billion supplemental defense budget on Wednesday to accelerate arms purchases and strengthen deterrence against China.
In an op-ed published a day earlier Washington PostHe said the purpose of the spending was to “protect democratic Taiwan”, adding that Taiwan’s military aims to have a “high level” of readiness by 2027 to deter China.
Lai on Wednesday accused Beijing of trying to turn democratic Taiwan into “China’s Taiwan.”
“There is no room for compromise on national security,” Lai told a news conference. He said concessions in the face of aggression lead to nothing but “slavery”.
“National sovereignty and the core values of freedom and democracy are the foundation of our nation,” he said.
Government figures show Taiwan’s defense budget will reach 3.32% of GDP in 2026, the highest since 2009. Lai aims to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2030.
US, Taiwan hail ‘unstable’ ties
Taiwan’s defense minister, Wellington Koo, said the multi-year package, valued at T$1.25 trillion ($39.9 billion, €34.4 billion), would be used to buy new systems, including from the US, Taiwan’s most important security partner.
Lai stressed that the plan is unrelated to the ongoing tariff talks with Washington.
Taiwan’s president described relations with the US as “very solid” and said he had confidence in relations between Taipei and Washington.
Raymond Green, the de facto US ambassador to Taipei, welcomed the move, saying Washington supports Taiwan’s “rapid acquisition of critical asymmetric capabilities needed to strengthen deterrence”.
China says it will ‘crush’ foreign interference on Taiwan
China has stepped up military and political pressure in recent years to assert its claim to democratically ruled Taiwan and has not ruled out using force to gain control over it.
Taipei strongly rejects these claims.
Meanwhile, Beijing warned on Wednesday against any foreign attempts to interfere in its policy towards Taiwan after Japan announced plans to deploy missiles on an island near Taiwan.
“We have strong will, determination and strong ability to safeguard our national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Peng Qiangen, spokesman for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, told a news conference.
“We will crush all foreign interference.”
Edited by Shawn Sinico