Taiwan's president to propose $40 bn in extra defence spending

Taiwan's president to propose $40 bn in extra defence spending

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said his government will propose $40 billion in additional defence spending over several years, as the democratic island seeks to deter a potential Chinese invasion.

Taiwan has ramped up defence spending in the past decade as Chinese military pressure intensified, but US President Donald Trump's administration has pushed the island to do more to protect itself.

The extra spending would go towards "significant new arms acquisitions from the United States, but also vastly enhance Taiwan's asymmetrical capabilities," Lai said in an opinion piece published in the Washington Post on Tuesday.

"We aim to bolster deterrence by inserting greater costs and uncertainties into Beijing's decision-making