Taipei: Defense Minister Wellington Koo reaffirmed Taiwan’s commitment to increasing its defense spending to 5 percent of GDP, following U.S. calls for a more significant hike. This announcement comes after John Noh, a nominee for the U.S. Pentagon’s assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs, endorsed former President Donald Trump’s proposal for Taiwan to allocate 10 percent of its GDP to defense.

According to Focus Taiwan, at a U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Noh expressed his support for Trump’s campaign proposal, highlighting the existential threat Taiwan faces from China’s People’s Liberation Army. Noh emphasized the importance of Taiwan acquiring asymmetric capabilities to address potential invasion scenarios and applauded Taiwan’s ongoing efforts to increase defense expenditure.

In response, Koo clarified that Taiwan’s defense budget is carefully considered, taking into account the threats it faces and the need to enhance combat readiness. He outlined the ministry’s spending priorities, which include developing asymmetric warfare capabilities, improving defense resilience, enhancing reserve force readiness, and countering gray-zone coercion. Koo stressed that these initiatives necessitate increased funding, although fiscal conditions and capacity-building requirements must also be factored in.

Koo reiterated President Lai Ching-te’s pledge to gradually raise defense spending, aiming for core national defense expenditures to surpass 3 percent of GDP next year and continue towards the 5 percent target. He emphasized the Ministry of National Defense’s ongoing commitment to strengthening Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities, without delving into specifics regarding the budget.

The defense minister’s comments were made ahead of a legislative hearing on a proposed NT$550 billion (US$18 billion) special budget aimed at enhancing social and economic resilience. This plan allocates NT$113.2 billion for initiatives such as fortifying military communications systems, upgrading infrastructure, and strengthening maritime defense.