Taiwan’s defense spending
Former US president Donald Trump’s national security adviser Robert O’Brien’s statement that Taiwan should significantly increase its defense spending in the face of potential Chinese aggression has sparked discussion.
Renowned Taiwanese economist Chieh Chung (揭仲), a researcher at the Taipei-based Association of Strategic Foresight, said that such a large percentage of defense spending (O’Brien suggested that Taiwan spend 5 percent of GDP on defense) is unreasonable during peacetime, and is likely to have a negative impact on the economic and social development of a democratic country.
Taiwan’s defense budget aims to improve the modernization of its military equipment, including the purchase of advanced fighter jets, missile systems, warships and drones to enhance air and sea defense capabilities, and to strengthen information warfare and cybersecurity capabilities to upgrade cyberprotection technology, establishing professional cybersecurity teams and promoting information warfare training.
Moreover, in addition to reforms to mandatory military service — which has been extended from four months to one year — the government has increased investment in military exercises and training to improve troops’ combat and emergency response capabilities.
It is also improving troop living conditions and welfare to improve morale and combat effectiveness.
Of course, the most important is that improvements to the nation’s logistical support capabilities and refining of the domestically built submarine program continue.
However, Trump publicly asked Taiwan to pay Washington more for “protection” during an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek.
He believes that Taiwan should share more of the defense costs, and would make this a condition for further US-Taiwan military cooperation, forcing Taipei to make more concessions on its defense budget to maintain cooperation with and support from the US. He has put the issue of Taiwan’s defense budget back on the table.
The call for the government to spend half of its budget on national defense has sparked debate in Taiwan.
In the face of external threats, Taiwan should focus on international cooperation and diplomatic means to ensure the nation’s defense, while also promoting sustainable economic and social development.
This is what is needed to truly realize national prosperity and public safety.
Wang Tien-yu
Taipei
US President Donald Trump created some consternation in Taiwan last week when he told a news conference that a successful trade deal with China would help with “unification.” Although the People’s Republic of China has never ruled Taiwan, Trump’s language struck a raw nerve in Taiwan given his open siding with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aggression seeking to “reunify” Ukraine and Russia. On earlier occasions, Trump has criticized Taiwan for “stealing” the US’ chip industry and for relying too much on the US for defense, ominously presaging a weakening of US support for Taiwan. However, further examination of Trump’s remarks in
It is being said every second day: The ongoing recall campaign in Taiwan — where citizens are trying to collect enough signatures to trigger re-elections for a number of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators — is orchestrated by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), or even President William Lai (賴清德) himself. The KMT makes the claim, and foreign media and analysts repeat it. However, they never show any proof — because there is not any. It is alarming how easily academics, journalists and experts toss around claims that amount to accusing a democratic government of conspiracy — without a shred of evidence. These
China on May 23, 1951, imposed the so-called “17-Point Agreement” to formally annex Tibet. In March, China in its 18th White Paper misleadingly said it laid “firm foundations for the region’s human rights cause.” The agreement is invalid in international law, because it was signed under threat. Ngapo Ngawang Jigme, head of the Tibetan delegation sent to China for peace negotiations, was not authorized to sign the agreement on behalf of the Tibetan government and the delegation was made to sign it under duress. After seven decades, Tibet remains intact and there is global outpouring of sympathy for Tibetans. This realization
Taiwan is confronting escalating threats from its behemoth neighbor. Last month, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army conducted live-fire drills in the East China Sea, practicing blockades and precision strikes on simulated targets, while its escalating cyberattacks targeting government, financial and telecommunication systems threaten to disrupt Taiwan’s digital infrastructure. The mounting geopolitical pressure underscores Taiwan’s need to strengthen its defense capabilities to deter possible aggression and improve civilian preparedness. The consequences of inadequate preparation have been made all too clear by the tragic situation in Ukraine. Taiwan can build on its successful COVID-19 response, marked by effective planning and execution, to enhance
RSS