On Tuesday, the defense ministry sent lawmakers a proposal: spend an additional US$8.6 billion over the next five years on beefing up Taiwan’s military. One big goal of this proposed special budget is to boost Taiwan’s anti-ship capabilities.
Taiwan’s military believes that time is of the essence: the proposal comes amid increased Chinese military maneuvers near Taiwan, and worse could be yet to come.
Taiwan’s military brass has not minced words when it comes to its bleak assessment of the cross-strait situation. The defense ministry now says that China may be able to pull off an assault on Taiwan as soon as 2025. And Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng says he’s never seen such a serious military situation before in all his 40 years of service.
But despite these sobering words, the defense ministry’s attitude is far from defeatist. It says that now is a time for action, not resignation. That’s why it’s proposed that the legislature approve a special budget of US$8.6 billion in additional military spending.
Around two-thirds of this money would go to Taiwan-made anti-ship missiles, missiles such as the Hsiung Feng II and Hsiung Feng III.
On Tuesday, the defense ministry sent lawmakers a proposal: spend an additional US$8.6 billion over the next five years on beefing up Taiwan’s military. One big goal of this proposed special budget is to boost Taiwan’s anti-ship capabilities.
Taiwan’s military believes that time is of the essence: the proposal comes amid increased Chinese military maneuvers near Taiwan, and worse could be yet to come.
Taiwan’s military brass has not minced words when it comes to its bleak assessment of the cross-strait situation. The defense ministry now says that China may be able to pull off an assault on Taiwan as soon as 2025. And Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng says he’s never seen such a serious military situation before in all his 40 years of service.
But despite these sobering words, the defense ministry’s attitude is far from defeatist. It says that now is a time for action, not resignation. That’s why it’s proposed that the legislature approve a special budget of US$8.6 billion in additional military spending.
Around two-thirds of this money would go to Taiwan-made anti-ship missiles, missiles such as the Hsiung Feng II and Hsiung Feng III.
On Tuesday, the defense ministry sent lawmakers a proposal: spend an additional US$8.6 billion over the next five years on beefing up Taiwan’s military. One big goal of this proposed special budget is to boost Taiwan’s anti-ship capabilities.
Taiwan’s military believes that time is of the essence: the proposal comes amid increased Chinese military maneuvers near Taiwan, and worse could be yet to come.
Taiwan’s military brass has not minced words when it comes to its bleak assessment of the cross-strait situation. The defense ministry now says that China may be able to pull off an assault on Taiwan as soon as 2025. And Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng says he’s never seen such a serious military situation before in all his 40 years of service.
But despite these sobering words, the defense ministry’s attitude is far from defeatist. It says that now is a time for action, not resignation. That’s why it’s proposed that the legislature approve a special budget of US$8.6 billion in additional military spending.
Around two-thirds of this money would go to Taiwan-made anti-ship missiles, missiles such as the Hsiung Feng II and Hsiung Feng III.