Experts call for key arms purchases amid proposed defense budget hike

Taipei, Feb. 15 (CNA) Experts have urged Taiwan to take advantage of President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) pledge on Friday to raise the defense budget to 3 percent of Taiwan's gross domestic product (GDP) to acquire key military platforms from the United States.

Kuo Yu-jen (郭育仁), deputy head of the Institute for National Policy Research, said that if U.S. President Donald Trump's administration was willing to approve the sale of Aegis destroyers, Taiwan should actively pursue the purchase.

Kuo added that acquiring major defense systems such as warships and fighter jets does not conflict with Taiwan's asymmetric warfare strategy.

Recent reports indicate that Taiwan is considering purchasing six E-2D early warning aircraft, Aegis destroyers and F-35 fighters.

Currently, Taiwan's defense budget stands at NT$647 billion (US$19.8 billion), or about 2.45 percent of GDP. Whether the proposed budget increase, which requires legislative approval, will materialize remains uncertain.

Chieh Chung (揭仲), a research fellow at the Association of Strategic Foresight, noted that large-scale military purchases from the U.S. could align with American interests by creating jobs and boosting the U.S. defense industry.

However, he warned that Taiwan must address potential shortages of trained personnel to operate and maintain advanced weaponry, as personnel and maintenance costs cannot be covered by special budgets.

Without proper resources, he cautioned, Taiwan risks acquiring powerful weapons that may not be fully operational due to manpower and maintenance constraints.