Taiwanese President Urges Parliament to Pass Military Budget to Bolster Defense Against China

‘[National defense] should be an area where we unite and present a common front to the outside,’ Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te delivers a speech during National Day celebrations in Taipei, Taiwan, on Oct. 10, 2025. Ann Wang/Reuters

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te on Feb. 11 urged parliament to pass a $40 billion special military budget, and the country’s defense minister warned that any delay could rupture Taiwan’s line of defense against China.

Lai announced the special budget in November 2025 to defend against military threats from the Chinese communist regime. On Dec. 17, 2025, the United States approved an $11.1 billion arms deal for Taiwan, the largest spending package ever proposed for the island nation.