President Lai Ching-te's government has allocated a record T$1.1 trillion for defence spending in 2027, which accounts for more than 3% of Taiwan's GDP. (EPA Images pic)TAIPEI: Taiwan aims to "deter war" by increasing its defence spending, the democratic island's leader said Saturday, as China uses military pressure to assert its territorial claims.
"Our aim by increasing investment in national defence is not to provoke, rather, it is to deter war," President Lai Ching-te said in speech to celebrate Taiwan's National Day.
Taiwan's 23 million people live under the constant threat of an attack by China, which insists the island is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to annex it.
