Channel News Asia
Date: 06 Aug 2018
TAIPEI: Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen said on Monday (Aug 6) she is seeking to ramp
Taiwan is seeking to ramp up spending on its armed forced as relations with China deteriorate AFP/SAM YEH
up spending on the armed forces, as relations with China deteriorate.
Her proposal to increase the 2019 defence budget by 5.6 per cent to Tw$346 billion (US$11.3 billion) will go before parliament following the summer recess.
Beijing sees democratic self-ruling Taiwan as part of its territory to be brought back into its fold, by force if necessary.
China has stepped up pressure on Taiwan since Tsai came to power two years ago, as her government refuses to acknowledge the island is part of “one China”.
It has staged a string of air and naval exercises, including a live-fire drill in the Taiwan Strait in April, which Chinese officials said were aimed at Taiwan’s “independence forces”. [FULL STORY]
