Taiwan's prexy eyes $40B in extra defense spending

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said Wednesday his government will propose $40 billion in additional defense spending over eight years, as the democratic island seeks to deter a potential Chinese invasion.

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Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te holds a press conference on "Action Plan for Safeguarding Democratic Taiwan and National Security" at the Presidential Office Building in Taipei. Lai said his government will propose $40 billion in additional defense spending over several years, as the democratic island seeks to deter a potential Chinese invasion. AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE

(AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE)

Taiwan has ramped up defense spending in the past decade as Chinese military pressure intensified, but US President Donald Trump's administration has pushed the island to do more to protect itself.

Lai said Wednesday the military aimed to have a "high level" of joint combat readiness against China by 2027 -- which US officials have previously cited as a possible timeline for a Chinese attack on the island.

"The ultimate goal is to establish defense capabilities that can permanently safeguard democratic Taiwan," Lai said at a news conference in Taipei after announcing the $40 billion spending plan in an opinion piece in the Washington Post.