Taiwan to Boost Defence Spending to Counter Communist China

To counter Communist China, Taiwan has unveiled a $19.41 billion budget to enhance defence capabilities in the coming year. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen vowed to modernize the nation’s armed forces, which are overshadowed by China’s fast-expanding military.

Taiwan decided to increase its defence budget to 14 percent yearly compared to previous years due to the ongoing crisis with Communist China. The proposed budget includes funds for new fighter jets and other types of equipment. However, the budget proposed by President Tsai Ing-wen’s Government is subject to parliamentary approval.

Tsai said the self-ruled Island’s determination to defend its sovereignty would not change due to ‘pressure by threats’. “At the same time, as a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan will not provoke incidents nor escalate conflicts,” Tsai added.

Taiwan has been governed independently of China since 1949, but Beijing views the Island as part of its territory. Beijing has vowed to eventually ‘unify’ Taiwan with the mainland, using force if necessary. China had budgeted $230 billion for this year’s defence spending, easily dwarfing Taiwan’s. So, the Island nation needs to protect and defend itself from a military incursion.

Though on a reduced scale, PLA has been continuing its military drills near the Island nation. The defence budget rise will surely boost Taiwan to flex its defence capacity against Communist China.