Lai Ching-te: Enhancing Self-Defense Capabilities is Key to True Peace

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) held a Central Executive Committee meeting today, where Lai Ching-te mentioned that the 10th marks the 47th anniversary of the enactment of the "Taiwan Relations Act." Following last week's visit by a bipartisan delegation of U.S. federal senators, this week, Representative Nunn, Chairman of the National Security Task Force of the U.S. House Republican Study Committee, and Senator Banks also led delegations to Taiwan, demonstrating the U.S. Congress's long-term and firm support for Taiwan through concrete actions.

Lai Ching-te stated that in the face of rising authoritarian threats, while the United States continues to implement its security commitments to Taiwan, Taiwan must actively demonstrate its determination for self-defense.

He said that to strengthen Taiwan's self-defense capabilities, the government is systematically increasing defense spending and has proposed a special defense budget of NT$1.25 trillion over eight years, hoping to establish an effective deterrent force. The Executive Yuan's special defense budget bill, currently under review in the Legislative Yuan, is a professional planning proposal put forward after full evaluation by the Ministry of National Defense and careful discussion with the U.S. side, and it has received support from over 70% of the domestic public.

Lai Ching-te reiterated that peace is priceless, and there are no winners in war. Taiwan's strengthening of its national defense is not provocation but rather to protect its accustomed democratic and free way of life. Only by enhancing self-defense capabilities can true peace be ensured.

Lai Ching-te said, "Heaven helps those who help themselves," and he called on the Legislative Yuan to swiftly pass the special defense budget bill without compromise, clearly conveying to the international community Taiwan's determination to defend democracy and freedom, and its commitment to maintaining regional peace and stability.

In addition, regarding the negotiation of the special defense bill to be held by the Legislative Yuan's Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee on the 9th, it was reported that DPP caucus whip Tsai Chi-chang mentioned at today's DPP Central Executive Committee meeting that the Kuomintang (KMT) requested a delay in military procurement negotiations. Cheng Li-wen is currently visiting China, and the KMT might believe that if there is progress in military procurement, Cheng Li-wen would not be able to give a good gift to China. Therefore, the KMT is again delaying military procurement, but the DPP believes that strengthening national defense is the priority. The DPP will still convene negotiations tomorrow, and the KMT may not attend, so it remains to be seen if the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) will come. (Edited by Lin Hsing-meng) 1150408