Taiwan must boost self-defence, cut reliance on US: former senior diplomat

Name: Mainland China white paper declares ‘greatest sincerity’ for peaceful reunification with Taiwan
Uploaded: 2022-08-26T12:00:18.000Z
Duration: 3 min 50 s
Description: Mainland China white paper declares ‘greatest sincerity’ for peaceful reunification with Taiwan

The island has ‘no choice but to step up’ or else risks undermining support in US political circles, says Douglas Paal, former American Institute in Taiwan director

Taipei’s bigger defence budget ‘a good move in the right direction’, but not a cure for current challenges, according to Paal

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Douglas Paal (left), shown here in 2002 with Taiwan’s then president Chen Shui-bian, is the former director of Washington’s de facto embassy in Taipei. Photo: Reuters

Kawala XieandTeddy Ng

Published: 8:00pm, 26 Aug 2022

Taiwan must bolster its self-defence, rather than relying on support from the United States, to deal with increasing pressure from mainland China, a former US diplomat said.

Douglas Paal, former director of the American Institute in Taiwan, which serves as the de facto US embassy on the island, said the increase in defence spending the Taipei government recently announced was a good development.

“It’s a good move in the right direction, but it has to be seen not as a cure to today’s challenges, but a down payment on future capabilities,” Paal said on Friday.

“It will take serious amounts of time to integrate budget enhancements into capabilities in defence.”

On Thursday, Taiwan’s highest administrative body, the Executive Yuan, agreed to an annual budget of NT$2.7 trillion (US$89.4 billion) for next year, including NT$586.3 billion for defence – a 13.9 per cent increase from 2022.

Taiwan has been under pressure to increase its defence spending as Beijing has intensified military deployment against the island, which it sees as a breakaway province that can be taken back by force.

Most countries, including the United States, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state. Washington, however, opposes any attempt to take the island by force and has vowed to back its defence with weapons sales and support.

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Mainland China white paper declares ‘greatest sincerity’ for peaceful reunification with Taiwan