TAIPEI: Taiwan will strengthen its defense efforts and safeguard the island’s security in the year ahead, President Lai Ching-te said in his Lunar New Year message released on Sunday.
Lai last year proposed $40 billion in extra defense spending to counter China, which views the island as its own territory. But the opposition, which has a majority in parliament, has refused to review the proposal and instead advanced its own, less expensive proposals, which only fund the purchase of some of the US weapons Lai wants.
In his address, recorded at one of Taiwan’s most important military radar stations in the central mountain range which he visited earlier this month, Lai said he wanted to thank the armed forces for protecting Taiwan around the clock.
“We will continue to strengthen our national defense and public security efforts, safeguarding national security and maintaining social stability,” he said in the message carried on his social media accounts.
The message showed Lai at the high-altitude Hsiaohsuehshan radar station, chatting with officers there.
