By Yimou Lee and Ben Blanchard, Reuters — Taipei, Thursday 13 August 2020
Taiwan unveiled a T$42.1 billion (US$1.4 billion) increase for next year’s planned defence spending, as China announced details of its latest combat drills near the democratic island. Tsai’s Cabinet is proposing T$453.4 billion in military spending for the year starting in January, up 10.2% from the current year.
“The steady increase in the defence budget will facilitate the implementation of various military-building and war-preparation tasks and ensure national security and regional peace and stability,” Taiwan’s Defence Ministry said. The budget must be approved by lawmakers, though Tsai’s Democratic Progressive Party has a large majority, making it unlikely to be blocked.
China’s People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theatre Command said its forces had in recent days carried out combat drills in the Taiwan Strait and to the north and south of the island, implying they were aimed at the recent visit by US Health Secretary Alex Azar to Taipei. China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control and has denounced the United States for arms sales to the island.