The Taiwanese government has decided on a budget proposal to increase the total defense budget for next year by about 14% from this year.
The total amount is the highest ever, and it is a form of showing a stance to counter China, which is increasing pressure on Taiwan with large-scale military exercises.
On the 25th, the Executive Yuan, which is the cabinet of Taiwan, made a cabinet decision on the budget for next year.
Of this, the annual budget managed by the Ministry of Defense is 415.1 billion Taiwan yuan, which is 12.9% more than this year, or about 1.88 trillion yen in Japanese yen.
As for the reason for the increase, the person in charge of budget compilation said that with the increased activity of the Chinese military around Taiwan, the dispatch of Taiwanese military aircraft and ships is becoming more frequent, and he expects the costs to increase in the future. I explain that it is because
In addition to this, there is also a special budget for the procurement of the new fighter F16V and mass production of missiles, etc., and the total defense expenditure next year will be 586.3 billion Taiwan yuan, the highest ever, 13.9% more than this year. It will be about 2.65 trillion yen.
According to the Ministry of National Defense, this amount corresponds to GDP = 2.4% of the regional gross product.
Even after conducting large-scale exercises in early this month, the Chinese military is increasing pressure, such as normalizing the flight of fighter aircraft over the "median line" of the Taiwan Strait, and the Taiwanese authorities have also significantly increased defense spending. It is a form that shows the stance to oppose.
The bill will now be deliberated in the Legislative Yuan, which is Taiwan's parliament.