In response to the growing threat from China, Taiwan’s government has made military modernization a major policy topic and has frequently pledged to spend more on its defenses, including developing made-in-Taiwan boats.
China’s air pressure flies about normal operations into the clouds near Taiwan, and in May staged war games around the area shortly after President Lai Ching-te took company, a man Beijing brands a” secessionist”. Lai rejects China’s independence claims, saying merely Taiwan’s persons can choose their potential.
The Democratic Progressive Party ( DPP ) will still need to pass the budget in the January elections, where the party’s majority still holds power.
Taiwan’s main opposition party, the Kuomintang, has repeatedly expressed its help for firming up the island’s threats, though it is already involved in a stand-off with the DPP about contested changes to give legislature greater supervision powers the government says is illegal.
China is also rapidly modernising its armed forces, with new aircraft carriers, stealth fighter jets and missiles.
China announced a 7.2 % increase in defense spending for the year, up from the projected 5 % economic growth target of$ 53.4 billion ( US$ 233.4 billion ), despite accounting for only about 1.3 % of GDP, according to analysts.
Taiwan has been pushed to modernize its military and spend more by successive US administrations. Despite the absence of diplomatic relations, the United States is Taiwan’s most significant arms supplier and international supporter.
Speaking at a security forum in Taipei on Wednesday, Nikki Haley, a United Nations ambassador under the Trump administration, praised Taiwan’s commitment to spending more on defence.
” Other free nations should learn from them, especially many US allies”, she said.