Taiwan Set to Propose Billion-Dollar Special Defense Budget
REPORTER:
The debate over military funding in Taiwan has gained attention both at home and overseas. The country is now set to propose a billion-dollar special defense budget. Part of it will be used for the newly announced T-Dome air defense system.
REPORTER:
Taiwan is preparing to spend big with a new special defense budget that could reshape how the country prepares for conflict.
REPORTER:
At this year’s US-Taiwan Defense Industry Conference, Taiwanese lawmakers laid out plans to budget an additional 40 billion US dollars for defense in the coming weeks.
Wang Ting-yu (LEGISLATOR, DPP):
Our government will propose
a new special defense budget.
It will span seven years.
The total amount will reach US$40 billion.
The first four years will be the peak spending period.
REPORTER:
Wang says US President Donald Trump’s administration has pressed allies to take responsibility for their own defense. Taiwan’s special budget, he says, will not only strengthen U.S.-Taiwan cooperation, but also open opportunities for collaboration in the defense industry supply chain.
REPORTER:
Taiwan’s Defense Minister Wellington Koo later confirmed the budget’s time span of seven years, but said the final amount hasn’t been decided.
REPORTER:
The extra spending comes as the US and Taiwan continue plans for a T-Dome, a new air defense system announced by President Lai Ching-te on National Day.
Wellington Koo (DEFENSE MINISTER):
When it comes to the overall air defense system
it’s certainly one of the key parts
of our military buildup.
So it’s only natural that both sides
would discuss this issue.
We’ll provide further details in the special budget proposal
by the end of the year.
REPORTER:
Back in the US, State Department officials are also revealing plans to release new global guidelines aimed at speeding up the review process and expanding access to defense technologies. That’s according to people with knowledge of the matter.
Rupert Hammond-Chambers (PRESIDENT, US-TAIWAN BUSINESS COUNCIL):
The US government is going to release new global guidelines, not just Taiwan guidelines, but global guidelines to expedite consideration and then release ability of technology for defense partners, including Taiwan.
REPORTER:
But it might not be easy to get the special budget cleared in the legislature, where the ruling party does not hold a majority. Still, the government hopes these plans will help Taiwan stand on its own two feet when it comes to defending itself.
Justin Wu and Alan Lu for TaiwanPlus.
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