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🇸🇬 Singapore /Elections & Politics

Defence spending shows determination to protect Taiwan, president says

From The Straits Times · () English

Summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire Named sources New plan
  • Taiwan’s proposed defence budget for next year will exceed T$1 trillion for the first time, President Lai Ching-te said.
  • Lai said the spending would strengthen Taiwan’s self-defence capabilities, while China accused his administration of provoking confrontation and wasting public money.
  • The exchange came as Beijing continues military and political pressure on Taiwan, which China claims as its territory.

Taiwan’s proposed defence budget will exceed T$1 trillion ($31.47 billion) next year for the first time, President Lai Ching-te said, presenting the increase as evidence of the island’s determination to protect itself.

Only by continuously enhancing defence capabilities and deterrent power can national security and regional peace be better ensured.

— Lai Ching-teTaiwan’s president defended the proposed increase in defence spending in remarks to military officers.

Speaking to military officers on Taiwan’s Armed Forces Day, Lai said stronger preparations would bring greater security. “Only by continuously enhancing defence capabilities and deterrent power can national security and regional peace be better ensured,” he said.

Lai said the proposed budget demonstrated Taiwan’s resolve to strengthen its self-defence capabilities. He also said the government would continue developing defence self-reliance, the military industrial sector, artificial intelligence and unmanned vehicles.

The proposed defence budget demonstrates to the international community Taiwan’s determination to strengthen its self-defence capabilities.

— Lai Ching-teLai described the budget as a signal of Taiwan’s resolve.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office gave a sharply different assessment. Spokesperson Zhang Han accused Lai and his administration of “recklessly” encouraging confrontation across the Taiwan Strait while spending the public’s money lavishly.

Recklessly incite cross-strait confrontation and antagonism while lavishly squandering the people’s hard-earned money.

— Zhang HanChina’s Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson criticized Lai’s administration.

Lai’s efforts to “resist reunification through force,” Zhang said, amounted to overestimating Taiwan’s strength and would bring “profound disaster” to its people. China, she added, remained unwavering in its determination to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Lai says only Taiwan’s people can decide the island’s future.

Resist reunification through force.

— Zhang HanZhang used the phrase to characterize Lai’s policies toward China.
About this summary

Originally published by The Straits Times. Summarized and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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