HONOLULU STOPOVER:During a stop in Hawaii, the president met with the chair of the American Institute in Taiwan and spoke at a seminar at the East-West Center
Taipei Times
Date: Oct 31, 2017
By: Staff writer, with CNA
Amid US concern over a growing military imbalance between Taiwan and China,
President Tsai Ing-wen, right, meets with East-West Center chief executive Richard Vuylsteke, left, and American Institute in Taiwan Chairman James Moriarty, center front, during a transit stop in Hawaii yesterday. Vuylsteke is a former long-time resident of Taipei, where he served as president of the American Chamber in Taipei and editor-in-chief of the Taiwan Review. Photo: CNA
President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) has promised to boost the nation’s defense budget by at least 2 percent annually, National Security Council (NSC) Deputy Secretary-General Tsai Ming-yen (蔡明彥) said yesterday.
The 2 percent increase will be in line with the projected growth of the nation’s economy, the president said, adding that the defense budget might even be increased by 3 percent if the need arises, Tsai Ming-yen said.
A special reserve fund is also to be allocated for major military procurements, Tsai Ming-yen told reporters, citing the president, who is on the first leg of a three-nation visit to allies in the Pacific.
He said Tsai Ing-wen made the pledge on Saturday during a meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii, with American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Chairman James Moriarty after AIT officials urged her to heed the US’ concerns about Taiwan’s comparatively small defense budget. [FULL STORY]
