TAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan will introduce a $40 billion supplementary defence budget to underscore its determination to defend itself, with “significant” new U.S. arms purchases planned, President Lai Ching-te said in a Washington Post op-ed essay.

The move comes as China, which views democratically-governed Taiwan as its own territory, has ramped up military and political pressure over the past five years to assert its claims, which Taipei strongly rejects.

But Taiwan also faces calls from Washington to spend more on its own defence, mirroring pressure from the United States on Europe.

In August, Lai said he hoped defence spending would reach 5% of gross domestic product by 2030.

“This landmark package will not only fund significant new arms acquisitions from the United States, but also

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