Taiwan has declared that it will raise its defense budget by 23 percent next year in response to growing pressure from China and increasing demands from the United States. If approved by parliament, defense spending will exceed 3.3 percent of the country’s GDP.
Prime Minister Cho Jung-tai stated, “This decision demonstrates Taiwan’s determination to safeguard its sovereignty and security, both to our citizens and to the international community.”
China, which claims sovereignty over Taiwan, has intensified its military exercises and patrols around the island. Beijing continues to warn that Taiwan will be forcibly annexed should it resist unification efforts.
Meanwhile, U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby emphasized Taiwan’s strategic importance to Washington. However, he also criticized Taipei, accusing it of not taking its own defense preparations seriously enough.
