Taipei: Taiwan President Lai Ching te has pledged to continue strengthening the island's defence capabilities despite significant cuts to a proposed military spending package by the opposition controlled parliament.
Speaking on Tuesday, Lai said his government would not abandon key defence projects even after lawmakers reduced a supplementary defence budget that was intended to boost Taiwan's military readiness amid growing tensions with China.
The government had originally proposed an additional defence package worth about US$40 billion. The plan included funding for new weapons purchases, missile development programs, military infrastructure and the expansion of Taiwan's domestic drone industry. However, parliament approved only around two thirds of the requested amount, rejecting funding for several locally developed defence projects.
Despite the setback, Lai made it clear that his administration remains committed to improving Taiwan's security. He said the government would continue exploring ways to fund the projects that were left out of the approved budget and would seek support for them through future legislation and budget proposals.
The dispute comes at a time when Taiwan faces increasing military pressure from China. Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory and has stepped up military activities around the island in recent years. Chinese warplanes and naval vessels have regularly operated near Taiwan, raising concerns among security experts and government officials.
Taiwan's leaders argue that strengthening the island's defence capabilities is necessary to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The government has focused on developing what military planners call an asymmetric defence strategy. This approach emphasises smaller and more mobile weapons systems, including drones, missile platforms and advanced air defence systems, which are considered effective against larger military forces.
The debate over defence spending has also attracted close attention from the United States, Taiwan's most important international security partner. American officials have repeatedly encouraged Taiwan to increase its defence budget and accelerate military modernisation efforts. Washington believes stronger self defence capabilities are essential for deterring potential aggression and maintaining regional stability.
Recent comments from senior United States representatives in Taipei have highlighted the importance of investing not only more money but also spending it wisely. Officials have pointed to lessons learned from conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, where drones and precision weapons have played a major role in modern warfare.
The budget dispute reflects broader political divisions within Taiwan. Opposition lawmakers have said they support stronger national defence but argue that large spending proposals should face thorough review and oversight. They have called for more detailed explanations of how the funds will be used before approving the full amount requested by the government.
Meanwhile, supporters of higher defence spending have expressed concern that delays and reductions could affect Taiwan's military preparedness. Defence officials have previously warned that funding uncertainties may slow weapons procurement, training programs and long term military planning.
Public demonstrations in Taipei earlier this year also highlighted the importance many citizens place on strengthening the island's security. Protesters urged lawmakers to support defence investments, arguing that a credible military deterrent is necessary to preserve peace.
For President Lai, the challenge now will be finding a way to build political consensus while continuing efforts to modernise Taiwan's armed forces. Although parliament has reduced the size of the defence package, the government appears determined to keep pursuing its long term goal of increasing military spending and improving the island's ability to respond to growing security challenges in the region.