Taiwan's Defense Budget Will Reach A Record Next Year To IDR 319 Trillion

JAKARTA - Taiwan's total defense budget will reach a new high of 19.74 billion (equivalent to IDR 319 trillion) next year as the island seeks to increase defense independence and cooperation with democratic partners.

"We are determined to increase self-defense and deepen cooperation with democratic partners in an effort to ensure peace and prosperity," President Lai Ching-te said.

Lai has faced ongoing personal attacks from China since taking office in May, and Beijing calls it a separatist'. China held war games around Taiwan shortly after Lai's inauguration.

The statement did not provide a comparison to the defense budget this year. The Taiwanese government has proposed a total defense spending of 606.8 billion Taiwan dollars for 2024.