President William Lai (賴清德) today announced three key priorities regarding national defense spending, national security laws and economic restructuring following a high-level national security meeting this morning.
Lai convened a national security meeting with Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰), National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) and other senior officials to discuss the US’ shifting trade policies and national security threats.
The first priority is to continue advancing defense reforms to demonstrate Taiwan’s commitment to national defense, Lai said.
Photo: Lo Pei-de, Taipei Times
The government would promote a special budget to ensure national defense spending reaches at least 3 percent of GDP, he said.
Second, the administration would push for national security reforms to enhance social resilience in the face of China’s “united front” tactics, infiltration and cognitive warfare, Lai said.
Third, the administration would focus on positioning Taiwan within the global market, strengthening the high-tech industry and collaborating with partners to establish a supply chain between democratic countries.
US President Donald Trump recently ordered a review of trade “imbalances,” saying he was considering tariffs on semiconductors, especially those made in Taiwan, and again accusing Taiwan of stealing the US’ chip business.
Under the US’ Taiwan Relations Act and "six assurances," the US has approved 48 arms sales to Taiwan with a total value of US$26.265 billion over the past eight years, Lai said.
During Trump’s first term, there were 22 arms sales totaling US$18.763 billion, significantly strengthening Taiwan’s defense capabilities, he said.
Based on the past eight years of close cooperation, Taiwan would continue to work with the US to strengthen national security and deepen cooperation, he said.
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