Lai's Security Plan, Record-High Defense Budget Draws Mixed Reactions

TaiwanPlus News

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te unveiled a new security plan featuring a record-breaking special defense budget, but the proposal has drawn mixed reactions.

Transcript

00:00A 40 billion U.S. dollar special defense budget, the largest Taiwan has ever proposed.

00:07President Lai Qingde on Wednesday unveiled a new multi-year defense plan running from

00:112026 to 2033.

00:14He says the budget will fund stronger air defense systems, investments in asymmetric

00:18warfare and the creation of a China-free defense supply chain.

00:23The U.S. has welcomed the move, the de facto American embassy in Taiwan, several senators

00:28and the House Foreign Affairs Committee all praised it, and Taiwan's foreign ministry

00:32expressed its thanks.

00:34Tai-Mei will continue in the state of Taiwan-關係 law and the six-year-old rule, safe and

00:39safe and friendly.

00:40To protect Taiwan's peace and peace and peace with the United States.

00:48But not everyone supports the plan.

00:50The main opposition, Kuomintang, or KMT, says the proposal means taking on huge debt, and

00:56that it could risk provoking China.

00:58How can we continue to maintain the world's peace and peace and peace to support such a

01:09huge national defense?

01:10This is what Lai總統 doesn't give us any evidence.

01:15Lai總統, you're going to protect me.

01:19The proposal came a day after Lai published an op-ed in the Washington Post outlining his

01:24defense vision.

01:25Both the KMT and the opposition Taiwan People's Party criticized the move, saying he went straight

01:31to the international media before communicating the plan to the public at home.

01:35Whether it's a country or a legislature, everyone can't understand the details.

01:39I didn't think that Lai總統 is using the way to publish the media media, to announce

01:44that our international payments will continue to increase $400 million.

01:49But some analysts say, sharing the budget with international media is a way for Taiwan to show

01:54allies abroad it's willing to defend itself.

01:56And while the Cabinet approved the budget on Thursday, China is continuing its greatest

02:03pressure.

02:04Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office, which handles cross-strait matters, responded to the budget

02:10plan, wanting it could push Taiwan into a disastrous situation.

02:17Meanwhile, Taiwan's Defense Ministry reported spotting 17 Chinese military aircraft and six

02:24vessels operating near the country between Wednesday and Thursday morning.

02:30Despite some opposition to the budget, analysts say that strengthening Taiwan's defenses has become a

02:37rare point of consensus amid ongoing pressure from China. Fu Huahong and Alan Lu for Taiwan Plus.

02:43Taiwan Plus.

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