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Taiwan's Leader Says Increasing Defence Spending to 'Deter War'
Lai said defense spending will reach 3.9% of GDP next year as Taiwan seeks more U.S. support for AI, drones and command systems.
- On Saturday, President Lai Ching-te marked Taiwan's National Day by pledging to increase defense spending to "deter war" while addressing crowds in Taipei, emphasizing the island's aim to maintain peace rather than provoke China.
- China continues to "apply pressure through military and grey-zone activities" to alter the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, a dispute rooted in a 1949 civil war between nationalist forces and Mao Zedong's communist fighters.
- Lai's government earmarked a record US$34.5 billion for 2027 defense spending, exceeding 3% of GDP, while U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet pledged bipartisan congressional support for Taiwan's deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.
- Parliamentary speaker Han Kuo-yu emphasized that "US support is extremely important to Taiwan's security," while political scientist Tao Yi-feng at National Taiwan University characterized Lai's speech as "relatively moderate."
- Taiwan's defense budget is projected to reach 3.9% of GDP next year, while the island awaits US signature on US$14 billion worth of weapons, including the US-made Patriot air defence system.
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28 Articles
28 Articles
Taiwan seeks to "prevent a war" by increasing its defence spending, said President Lai Ching-te on Saturday.
·Montreal, Canada
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Le Journal de Montreal+2 Reposted by 2 other sources
Taiwan seeks to "prevent a war" by increasing its defence spending, said Saturday the leader of the democratic island.
·Montreal, Canada
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Taiwan's leader says increasing defence spending to 'deter ...
·Issy-les-Moulineaux, France
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Despite the increase in defense budgets, challenges such as manpower, operational maintenance, and technological self-sufficiency have led to a disconnect between military investment and sustainable combat capabilities. It is essential to ensure that resources are effectively transformed into genuine defense capabilities, rather than simply pursuing budget figures.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources28
Leaning Left5Leaning Right7Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution41% Right
Bias Distribution
- 41% of the sources lean Right
41% Right
L 30%
C 29%
R 41%
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