Taiwan defense budget sends right signal to White House: U.S. scholar

Washington, Aug. 21 (CNA) Taiwan's proposed 2027 defense budget sends a signal that should resonate with the White House, which has urged allies and partners to increase defense spending, a U.S. scholar said Friday.

The Cabinet on Thursday approved the central government budget proposal for 2027, which would allocate NT$1.1225 trillion (US$35.3 billion) for defense, equivalent to 3.01 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).

Michael Hunzeker, an associate professor at George Mason University who studies Taiwan's defense issues, said the proposed budget was a "very positive development" that showed President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) remained committed to keeping defense spending above 3 percent of GDP and on track to reach 5 percent by 2030.

Given the White House's emphasis on urging allies and partners to increase defense spending, Hunzeker said the proposal should send a signal that would be welcomed by the White House.

"It should likewise send a clear signal to Beijing that its increasingly aggressive actions have not caused the Lai administration to back down on its national security promises," he added.

Hunzeker said a growing defense budget should give Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense and armed forces more resources to acquire better and more appropriate weapons, ammunition and spare parts, expand rigorous and realistic training, strengthen resilience efforts, and attract and retain personnel for mission-critical frontline combat units.

"Of course, this proposal is just the start of a long process. Potential obstacles and challenges remain," he added.

Hunzeker noted that the proposal still needs to be reviewed by the Legislature and could face scrutiny similar to that faced by the 2026 budget, which lawmakers passed only recently.

He also pointed to opposition parties' pushback against Lai's proposed eight-year special defense budget, saying further scrutiny could be expected as parties prepare for upcoming elections.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson, speaking on background, welcomed Taiwan's proposal to increase defense spending to more than 3 percent of GDP, saying it demonstrated Taiwan's resolve to strengthen its self-defense capabilities.

The spokesperson said the U.S. supports Taiwan's acquisition of critical defense capabilities "consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act and more than 45 years of commitment across multiple U.S. administrations."

The spokesperson added that "the threat Taiwan faces from China has grown considerably."