Premier Su Tseng-chang (
"That is the direction that we will be approaching," Su said in the legislature yesterday in response to a question from Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Shen Fa-hui (沈發惠).
Shen had asked whether the Cabinet would be able to achieve this goal, which President Chen Shui-bian (
Shen said this year's military budget amounts to 2.42 percent of GDP, and that additional funds of around NT$6 million (US$187,500) may be needed to reach the goal of 2.85 percent of GDP.
He asked Su if the Cabinet anticipated any problems in reaching the goal.
Su said he agreed with the idea of increasing the defense budget because Taiwan needed to beef up its military defenses.
"Taiwan is an independent country. China has never relinquished its ambition to use force against Taiwan, and its military is keeping up its regular military exercises. Under these circumstances, we do need more protection," Su said.
"As long as there is a constant foreign threat, I think it is natural for any country to take steps to protect itself," he added.
Su said that Beijing was increasing its military budget every year, making it an ever-present and growing threat to Taiwan.
"Increasing our military budget will also send a message to our enemy that our determination to defend our own country remains unchanged," the premier said.
RETHINK? The defense ministry and Navy Command Headquarters could take over the indigenous submarine project and change its production timeline, a source said Admiral Huang Shu-kuang’s (黃曙光) resignation as head of the Indigenous Submarine Program and as a member of the National Security Council could affect the production of submarines, a source said yesterday. Huang in a statement last night said he had decided to resign due to national security concerns while expressing the hope that it would put a stop to political wrangling that only undermines the advancement of the nation’s defense capabilities. Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Vivian Huang (黃珊珊) yesterday said that the admiral, her older brother, felt it was time for him to step down and that he had completed what he
Taiwan has experienced its most significant improvement in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, data provided on Sunday by international higher education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) showed. Compared with last year’s edition of the rankings, which measure academic excellence and influence, Taiwanese universities made great improvements in the H Index metric, which evaluates research productivity and its impact, with a notable 30 percent increase overall, QS said. Taiwanese universities also made notable progress in the Citations per Paper metric, which measures the impact of research, achieving a 13 percent increase. Taiwanese universities gained 10 percent in Academic Reputation, but declined 18 percent
CHINA REACTS: The patrol and reconnaissance plane ‘transited the Taiwan Strait in international airspace,’ the 7th Fleet said, while Taipei said it saw nothing unusual The US 7th Fleet yesterday said that a US Navy P-8A Poseidon flew through the Taiwan Strait, a day after US and Chinese defense heads held their first talks since November 2022 in an effort to reduce regional tensions. The patrol and reconnaissance plane “transited the Taiwan Strait in international airspace,” the 7th Fleet said in a news release. “By operating within the Taiwan Strait in accordance with international law, the United States upholds the navigational rights and freedoms of all nations.” In a separate statement, the Ministry of National Defense said that it monitored nearby waters and airspace as the aircraft
UNDER DISCUSSION: The combatant command would integrate fast attack boat and anti-ship missile groups to defend waters closest to the coastline, a source said The military could establish a new combatant command as early as 2026, which would be tasked with defending Taiwan’s territorial waters 24 nautical miles (44.4km) from the nation’s coastline, a source familiar with the matter said yesterday. The new command, which would fall under the Naval Command Headquarters, would be led by a vice admiral and integrate existing fast attack boat and anti-ship missile groups, along with the Naval Maritime Surveillance and Reconnaissance Command, said the source, who asked to remain anonymous. It could be launched by 2026, but details are being discussed and no final timetable has been announced, the source