Hundreds rallied in Taipei to press parliament to approve the remaining portion of President Lai Ching-te's $40 billion supplementary defence budget after lawmakers approved only two-thirds of the request. Protesters, organised by human rights and pro-independence groups, called for funding for both U.S. arms and domestically produced systems such as drones, and urged swift approval of the "T-Dome" air-defence project. Opposition leaders say they back defence spending but refuse to approve unrestricted funds, stressing transparency and fiscal caution.
Hundreds Rally in Taipei Backing Lai’s $40B Defence Push After Parliament Cuts Funding
FILE PHOTO: Soldiers operate CM-32 armored vehicles during the annual military exercise ahead of Lunar New Year in Taichung, Taiwan, January 27, 2026 REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo
Hundreds gathered in central Taipei on Saturday to urge approval of the government's supplementary defence budget after an opposition-controlled parliament approved only two-thirds of the $40 billion President Lai Ching-te had requested.
Lai sought the additional funding to buy U.S. arms and to invest in domestically produced systems — including drones — designed to strengthen Taiwan's deterrence against China, which regards the island as its own territory.
The opposition, which holds the most seats in parliament, this month passed its own version of the spending package and limited it to purchases of U.S. weaponry. Opposition lawmakers said the administration's broader proposal was unclear and could create opportunities for corruption.
The Taipei demonstration was organised by human rights and pro-independence groups. Participants waved flags and chanted slogans calling for stronger national defence and continued investment in Taiwan's security.
"True peace requires national defence. Only by strengthening our national defence can we ensure Taiwan's freedom," said Wang Hsing-huan, chairman of the Taiwan Statebuilding Party, addressing the crowd.
The government is now seeking parliamentary approval for the remaining funds, including financing for its new "T-Dome" integrated air-defence system, a programme officials say would improve Taiwan's ability to detect and intercept threats.
"We need to protect ourselves against China's expansion," said Angela Yen, 34, a civil engineer who joined the rally. "China and Taiwan are two different countries."
Both of Taiwan's main opposition parties say they support defence spending in principle but insist they will not sign "blank cheques." Speaking in southern Taiwan on Saturday, Kuomintang chairwoman Cheng Li-wun reiterated that nobody wants war with China and urged fiscal prudence, saying Taiwan should invest in peace and avoid reckless expenditures.
Tensions across the Taiwan Strait remain high. Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying that only the island's people can decide their future.
(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Kim Coghill)
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