Taiwan President Lai Ching-te says he will not give up on plans to raise defence spending after the legislature cuts the proposed budget. Reporting from multiple outlets states that Lai responds to reductions made by parliament, which lower the level of funding sought for defence compared with earlier proposals. Lai reiterates that Taiwan’s defence budget is currently about 3% of gross domestic product and that he aims to increase it to 5% of GDP by 2030. The statements underscore that the president and lawmakers are in disagreement over how much to allocate for defence in the near term while maintaining the longer-term target for higher spending. The reports characterize the latest development as a setback to the president’s immediate budget goals, but not an abandonment of the broader plan. The dispute is presented in the context of Taiwan’s focus on strengthening its defence capabilities amid ongoing regional security concerns.
Taiwan President says he will press for higher defence spending after parliamentary cuts
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te says he will not give up on plans to raise defence spending after the legislature cuts the proposed budget. Reporting from multiple outlets states that Lai responds to re...
- Taiwan President Lai Ching-te says he will continue to pursue higher defence spending after parliament cuts the budget.
- The defence spending target is to reach 5% of GDP by 2030.
- Taiwan’s defence spending is described as around 3% of GDP currently.
- The legislature’s cuts reduce the proposed defence funding compared with earlier plans.
- The situation reflects a disagreement between the president and parliament over defence budget levels.
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te wants to increase defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2030 from around 3% currently
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