TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) 鈥 Taiwan鈥檚 defense minister says the island is planning to boost military spending in the face of the 鈥渞apidly changing international situation and the escalating threats from adversaries.鈥
Wellington Koo gave no figures but said President William Lai Ching-te was working with the ministry in consideration of enemy threats and urgent readiness needs, a reference to China鈥檚 threats to invade the island, which it considers its own territory.
Those would 鈥渋ncrease the proportion of the defense budget in relation to GDP,鈥 Koo said, in comments Monday that were embargoed until Tuesday. Taiwan currently spends about 2.45% of its gross domestic product on its military.
鈥淎t the same time, in coordination with national security and foreign policy, the military will continue to deepen cooperation with the United States and other allied nations, expanding multilateral military exchanges to jointly uphold regional peace and stability," Koo said.
Taiwan sees a growing threat from China, which regularly sends ships and aircraft into areas near Taiwan. China is expected to announce its annual defense budget on Wednesday.
Xinhua, China鈥檚 state-run news agency, reported that senior Chinese official Wang Huning during an annual meeting about Taiwan had called for China to take the initiative in cross-strait relations and push toward the 鈥渞eunification of the motherland.鈥
The government in Taipei China鈥檚 military exercises on Thursday after Beijing designated an area to conduct shooting drills off the self-governed island鈥檚 southwest coast.
Along with the latest equipment, the military is seeking funds to increase retention of service people through higher pay, and will need additional funds to accommodate a lengthening of compulsory national service from four months to one year.
United States President Donald Trump has also demanded the self-governing island democracy that relies on the U.S. for much of its cutting-edge weaponry, increase defense spending to up to 10% of GDP, a proportion well above what the U.S. or any of its major allies spend.
China's actions have also unsettled neighbors in the South China Sea and other parts of the Indo-Pacific.
Leaders in Australia and New Zealand also said China should have given them more warning before its navy conducted an unusual in the seas between the two countries last month, forcing flights to divert on short notice.
