Now Reading: Taiwan plans record Rs 2.8 lakh crore defence budget for 2027
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Taiwan plans record Rs 2.8 lakh crore defence budget for 2027
Taiwan plans to spend a record NT$1.1 trillion (Rs 2.8 lakh crore) on defence in 2027, exceeding 3% of GDP, the semi-official Central News Agency reports. The cabinet will discuss the plan…
The Story in Brief
Taiwan plans to spend a record NT$1.1 trillion (Rs 2.8 lakh crore) on defence in 2027, exceeding 3% of GDP, the semi-official Central News Agency reports. The cabinet will discuss the plan on August 20, but the final figure needs approval from an opposition-controlled legislature. The proposed budget follows President Lai Ching-te's February 2025 target of 3% defence spending, after Donald Trump questioned Taiwan's commitment to self-defence.
Taiwan's initial 2025 military budget surged 23% to NT$949.5 billion, though it newly included coast guard and veterans' funds. Lawmakers earlier approved a Rs 2.1 lakh crore special defence budget, less than Lai sought, partly for the T-Dome air-defence system. The 2026 central budget remains stalled due to a party standoff.
The Indian Opinion
The talk of a 3%-of-GDP defence target feeds a lazy narrative that Taiwan is finally arming itself properly against China. Yet the real story is domestic gridlock: the cabinet proposes, but a hostile legislature can slash it. Last year lawmakers approved only Rs 2.1 lakh crore of the Rs 2.8 lakh crore Lai sought. Watch whether the final 2027 outlay actually crosses 3%, or if party politics trumps defence.
Source: livemint.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
