"The Taiwan president, Lai Ching-te, said there was no room for compromise on national security, and he was committed to boosting Taiwan's defences in conjunction with US support. This is not an ideological struggle, nor a unification vs independence' debate, but a struggle to defend democratic Taiwan' and refuse to submit to being China's Taiwan'. Lai and defence minister, Wellington Koo, announced the spending bump an increase of at least $8bn on what had previously been flagged on Wednesday after a briefing from the national security council."
"Koo said the extra budget, covering 2026-2033, would include AI tools to improve current systems, as well as new missiles and drones. The government would also make improvements to military procurement (several big ticket orders from the US have faced significant delays), and would create new measures to protect Taiwanese abroad from Chinese transnational repression, he said."
Beijing's threats to Taiwan are intensifying and preparations to invade are accelerating. Taiwan announced a $40bn special defence budget and a spending bump of at least $8bn on previously planned expenditures covering 2026–2033. Measures include AI tools to improve current systems, new missiles and drones, procurement improvements, and protections for Taiwanese abroad against Chinese transnational repression. President Lai committed to boosting national defence with US support, rejected 'one country, two systems' as an inviolable red line, and warned that the gravest annexation risk is Taiwan surrendering. Defence spending is expected to reach 3.3% of GDP in 2026 with a pledge to hit 5% by 2030.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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