Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has said he says hopes that the United States will approve pending arms purchases as soon as possible. He made the remarks while addressing reporters in Taipei.
He stressed that Taiwan’s defence efforts are focused on protecting its democracy and way of life. He added that these actions should not be misunderstood as provocation.
President Lai says hopes that international support will help strengthen Taiwan’s security. He said the island continues to face growing pressure from China.
Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out using force. This continues to create regional tensions in East Asia.
The United States does not officially recognise Taiwan as a separate country. However, it is legally required to support Taiwan’s self-defence capabilities under domestic law.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently said a proposed $14 billion arms package is under review. Officials are also assessing stockpile levels for broader military needs.
President Lai’s government has increased defence spending targets to more than three percent of GDP. It has also proposed major investments in modern weapons systems.
Taiwan plans to allocate NT$1.25 trillion for defence procurement. This includes US-made arms as well as locally developed drones.
Lawmakers in Taiwan remain divided over the scale of defence spending. Opposition parties recently passed a reduced special budget of $25 billion.
Despite internal disagreements, President Lai says hopes that cooperation with the United States will continue to grow. He emphasized shared security goals between both sides.
He also warned that China is increasing pressure not only on Taiwan but also on other regional countries. He referred to rising tensions in maritime areas.
According to Lai, China’s military presence has expanded in the East and South China Seas. He said coercive actions in the region are becoming more frequent.
Taiwan continues to reject Beijing’s sovereignty claims and maintains that both sides are not subordinate to each other.
Regional cooperation between countries like Japan and the Philippines has also increased due to shared maritime concerns.
President Lai concluded that Taiwan will continue strengthening its defence capabilities. He reiterated that he says hopes for stronger international support in the future.
In other news read more about: China Issues Warning To US On Taiwan Arms Sales Before Trump–Xi Meeting
