Taiwan’s Defence Minister Wellington Koo on Friday rejected a proposal by the main opposition party for a defence budget about one-third of what the government requested, saying its deadline for U.S. arms purchases was unrealistic.
Dispute over Military Spending
Taiwan has faced pressure from the United States to sharply raise defence spending. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te last year proposed extra defence spending of $40 billion to counter China, which has ramped up military pressure to force the island to accept its claim of sovereignty.
But the main opposition Kuomintang, which together with a smaller party holds a majority in parliament, refused to review the proposal and instead this week advanced its own, less expensive proposals, which only fund around 30% of the spending that Lai wants.
The move came after growing pressure from politicians in U.S., Taiwan’s most important international backer and arms supplier, to not hold up spending.
In the KMT’s counter-proposal, the party set a cap of T$380 billion ($11.96 billion) on the spending and a deadline for completion by the end of 2028.
Arms purchases and China tensions
Talking to reporters in Taipei, Koo said the government’s proposal included precision artillery and anti-armour unmanned systems.
The KMT also said it backs U.S. arms deals handled between the two governments and opposes deals arranged through commercial channels, which it views as vulnerable to irregularities and inadequate scrutiny.
In response, Koo said omitting any channel for acquiring weapons would “create a major gap in our overall defence and operational capabilities and significantly undermine the improvement of our joint combat capabilities.”
He added the government’s proposal has the backing of the U.S administration and congress.
The KMT has described Lai’s plan as “sky‑high” and vague, citing the need for clearer oversight.
KMT chairperson Cheng Li-wun has said her party has been in communication with the Chinese Communist Party and that she hopes to visit China this year for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
China regularly stages military exercises around Taiwan, and refuses to talk to Lai, calling him a “separatist”. Lai says only Taiwan’s people can decide their future.
(With inputs from Reuters)
