Taiwan leader urges swift defence budget nod amid rising China threat
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te on Thursday stressed that investing in national defence is investing in peace amid rising tensions with China, urging the opposition-led legislature to approve a proposed special military budget.
In his New Year address, Lai said that as China steps up its expansionist ambitions, the world is closely watching whether Taiwan has the resolve to defend itself.
“I hope the ruling and opposition parties can work together to ensure that critical defence budgets are passed as soon as possible,” he added.
In November, Lai announced a supplementary military budget of NT$1.25 trillion (US$40 billion) for the next eight years, describing it as a move to reinforce Taiwan’s commitment to defend itself and to contribute to regional stability.
Responding to media questions, Lai said that recent Chinese drills incorporated scenarios targeting Taiwan’s newly enhanced capabilities.
“This clearly shows that Taiwan’s defence procurement budget is essential to safeguarding national security,” he said.
On Monday, China launched surprise drills around Taiwan, dubbed “Justice Mission 2025,” which intensified on Tuesday, with some rockets landing within Taiwan’s 24-nautical-mile (44-kilometre) contiguous zone.
“Only unity, not division, will prevent giving China the wrong message: that it could invade Taiwan,” Lai stressed.
Observers said the drills were partly a response to remarks by Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, suggesting Tokyo could intervene if China attacked Taiwan, as well as to a US arms package approved for Taipei in December.
On Thursday, Lai reiterated that Taiwan is willing to engage in exchanges with China, provided they are conducted based on equal dignity. China cut official communications with Taiwan in June 2016.
Democratic Taiwan, home to 23.4 million people, has governed itself since 1949, while China continues to claim the island and has repeatedly threatened annexation.
