Taiwan’s Premier, Chen Chien-jen, recently addressed a query from an opposition legislator regarding the feasibility of increasing the island’s defense spending to 10% of its GDP, equating to approximately $79 billion. He deemed such a budget increase unattainable, particularly in light of the Republic of China’s projected GDP of about NT$27 trillion ($815 billion). Earlier this year, the opposition-controlled parliament reduced the total government budget from NT$3.1 trillion to NT$2.9 trillion (around $88 billion), prompting Chen to urge opposition members to reverse their decision, which they refused to do. This budgetary constraint has compelled the government to consider cuts in military expenditure, which is critical given that the United States serves as Taiwan’s primary military ally and arms supplier. This situation underscores the strategic vulnerability Taiwan faces against China’s persistent claims of sovereignty over the island, thereby emphasizing the critical nature of its defense funding and the geopolitical ramifications of budgetary decisions on Taiwan’s security.
