Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has said that next year’s defense budget will reach a record 647 billion New Taiwan dollars, or about 20 billion dollars.
Lai was briefed on the proposed package by the Executive Yuan, or Cabinet, on Tuesday.
The defense budget will include funds for purchasing advanced fighter jets.
The presidential office disclosed a video of the briefing. Lai said, “We are determined to boost self-defense and deepen cooperation with democratic partners in a bid to ensure peace and prosperity.”
Lai apparently wants to gain the support of the international community by stressing Taiwan’s efforts at self-defense, amid fears of a Chinese invasion.
The proposed budget will be endorsed shortly by the Executive Yuan and deliberated next month by the parliament, known as the Legislative Yuan.
However, it is unclear whether the deliberations will proceed smoothly, as the opposition holds the majority of parliamentary seats.