Status: 08/25/2022 4:23 p.m
Taiwan is reacting to the growing tensions in the conflict with China with a sharp increase in military spending to a record level. The island state wants to spend 3.6 billion euros on fighter jets alone.
As a result of rising tensions with China, Taiwan has announced plans to significantly increase its defense spending. Accordingly, the democratically governed island state wants to increase the military budget for the coming year by 14 percent to a record value of 19.5 billion euros.
The defense budget contained therein is said to contain the equivalent of around 13.7 billion euros. The Taiwanese government has also announced that it will set up a special budget of 3.6 billion euros for new combat aircraft. However, Parliament still has to approve the expenditure.
Escalation of the conflict after Pelosi’s visit
At the beginning of August, the visit of US top politician Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan led to serious tensions. China saw this as a provocation. A short time later, China began the largest military maneuvers around Taiwan to date, during which a possible conquest of the island was also practiced.
Live ammunition was used during the maneuvers, according to the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Chinese army would have fired rockets into the sea. A rocket also flew over land. Taiwan also held exercises and presented fighter jets.
Another visit from the USA announced
Taiwan’s military spending has already increased in recent years, but by less than four percent since 2017. China considers the island part of the People’s Republic and has not ruled out taking Taiwan by military force as a last resort. On the other hand, Taiwan, with its 23 million inhabitants, sees itself as independent. It was governed independently before the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949.
The status of Taiwan is also a major bone of contention between China and the US. Tensions notwithstanding, another US congressional delegation is due to enter Taiwan, according to Taiwanese news agency CNA. Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that “important people” are expected in the capital, Taipei, in the evening. It is not yet known who it is supposed to be about. According to CNA, Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen plans to receive the visitors on Friday.