Taiwan's Big Move to Boost Defense

Taiwan is making a major investment in its defense. The country's president, Lai Ching-te, has announced a special budget of $40 billion. This money will be used to buy weapons and build a strong air defense system called the Taiwan Dome. The plan is to spend this amount over the next eight years, from 2026 to 2033. This big spending plan comes as Taiwan faces growing threats from China. Recently, China has been sending warplanes, navy ships, and drones near Taiwan. These actions are part of China's efforts to pressure Taiwan. The U. S. has been pushing Taiwan to spend more on defense. Currently, Taiwan spends about 3. 3% of its GDP on defense. The U. S. wants Taiwan to increase this to 10%, which is much higher than what most countries spend. The U. S. supports Taiwan's decision to boost its defense budget. They see it as a necessary step to counter the threats from China. Taiwan's defense minister, Wellington Koo, said the $40 billion is the maximum amount they plan to spend. This money will be used to buy precision-strike missiles and develop new defense systems with the U. S. Taiwan is also focusing on defending against China's psychological warfare. This includes spreading false information and trying to weaken Taiwan's unity. The government plans to monitor and increase public awareness of these tactics, especially during major events and elections. Taiwan's president also commented on the growing tension between China and Japan. Japan's new leader suggested that Japan might get involved militarily if China attacks Taiwan. This statement angered China. Lai said that Japan's comments were about maintaining regional stability. He hopes China will understand that every country in the Indo-Pacific region has a responsibility to keep the peace.