Taiwan’s Lai says defence spending aims to deter war

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said increased defence spending is intended to deter war, not provoke it, as he used the island’s National Day address on October 10 to call for peace and regional cooperation. He urged Indo-Pacific democracies to work together to preserve stability, while saying dialogue with China must respect the right of Taiwan’s people to exist. Speaking at an event outside the Presidential Office in Taipei, attended by thousands, including foreign diplomats, Lai said Taiwan welcomes talks between the United States and China to manage competition and reduce the risk of conflict. He said strengthening Taiwan’s self-defence was not a rejection of dialogue, but was intended to make dialogue possible on a basis of parity and dignity. Lai’s government has earmarked NT$1.1 trillion for defence in 2027, an amount reported as more than 3% of gross domestic product. The allocation comes as Taiwan faces military and political pressure from Beijing, which claims the island as its territory. Lai said China’s actions across the Taiwan Strait were aimed at changing the status quo; those assessments were presented as his statements in the speech. Taiwan is also awaiting U.