Taiwan puts $40 billion toward buying U.S. weapons and building a defense dome

Taiwan announced a $40 billion special defense budget over eight years for U.S. arms purchases and Taiwan Dome, a multilayered air defense system.

The announcement reflects escalating Chinese military threats and mounting U.S. pressure for Taiwan to raise defense spending to at least 5% of GDP.

Taiwan will purchase precision-strike missiles and develop joint defense systems with the U.S. to counter aircraft, drones, cruise missiles and ballistic threats.

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te on Wednesday announced a special $40 billion budget for arms purchases, including to build an air defense system with high-level detection and interception capabilities called Taiwan Dome, as the U.S. pressures the island to increase its defense spending.

The budget will be allocated o