《TAIPEI TIMES》Politicization of defense spending raises concern

健康 國際 地方 蒐奇 影音 財經 娛樂 汽車 時尚 體育 3 C 評論 藝文 玩咖 食譜 地產 專區 TAIPEI TIMES 求職

US Representative John Moolenaar, fourth from right, takes a group photograph with Chinese Nationalist Party legislators in Washington on Tuesday. Photo courtesy of US House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the US and the Chinese Communist Party, via CNA

URGENT:The KMT needs to follow through and deliver the resources needed to build Taiwan’s critical defense capabilities, a US lawmaker told a visiting KMT delegation

By Lin Hsin-han and Hollie Younger / Staff reporter, with staff writer

The politicization and delay of Taiwan’s increased defense spending has raised concerns among Taiwan’s partners, US Representative John Moolenaar, chairman of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the US and the Chinese Communist Party, said on Tuesday.

Moolenaar released an official statement after meeting with a delegation of Chinese Nationalist Party （KMT） lawmakers on Capitol Hill in Washington.

The delegation, led by KMT Legislator Hsu Chiao-hsin （徐巧芯）, discussed Taiwan’s national defense, energy independence and cross-strait policy.

Moolenaar said that, having met with members of the leading parties in Taiwan, they “all share the belief that there is an urgent need to strengthen Taiwan’s defense,” as China’s harassment of Taiwan has grown in recent months, including cyberattacks, intrusions and military exercises.

The KMT-proposed drone budget would increase support for critical drone capabilities, he said, adding that it would be essential for the KMT to “follow through and deliver the resources needed to deliver on Taiwan’s plans to build critical defense capabilities.”

Meanwhile, a statement from the KMT delegation said that they stressed to Moolenaar that the people of Taiwan love and firmly defend their free and democratic way of life, but understand the threat of war as seen in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine, Middle East and Iran conflicts.

The party fully supports the key defense spending necessary to maintain Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities, it said, evidenced by the drone development act and the passage of a special defense budget.

Alongside weapons procurement, critical infrastructure is key to deterrence, and energy security remains one of Taiwan’s most critical vulnerabilities, it said.

The party referenced its proposal to hold a referendum on restarting nuclear power, which could be used to provide a stable supply of electricity during a blockade or crisis.

Speaking on cross-strait issues, the KMT said it places equal emphasis on dialogue and deterrence when dealing with Beijing and seeks to establish stable communication channels to reduce the risk of miscalculation and manage crises.

The KMT said it will continue to deepen cooperation and dialogue with the US Congress in areas including national defense, high-tech supply chain resilience, energy transition, trade and economic affairs, working together towards peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

不用抽 不用搶 現在用APP看新聞 保證天天中獎 點我下載APP 按我看活動辦法

《TAIPEI TIMES》Prescription needed for foreign weight loss injections: FDA

《TAIPEI TIMES》Minister ‘open’ to Honduras relations

射精「防癌」 網紅醫給各年齡男性建議：30多歲這麼做

《海角七號》童星「大大」長大了！爆肥8公斤「挺肚子」搭車被讓座

中職》富邦助攻！兄弟爭奪年度第一還有一線生機

華邦電砸353.9億 買英飛凌NOR Flash、F-RAM事業

自由爆新聞》獨！蔣家故居一鐵證讓混血王子尷尬了！沈3數據電爆蔣

華為創辦人任正非「舉家外逃」？二女兒北京公開亮相

全球第二大產蝦國出事了！蝦農被逼到撐不住 明年恐「全面停產3個月」

棒球》台灣大賽勇奪優秀球員獎！ 前兄弟洋投投奔中國CPB

新聞360》急了？中共怪事狂炸！習「焦慮感爆棚」內部吹統一無望論

MLB》台灣好手立大功！鄭宗哲成紅襪崛起關鍵奇兵 總教練有話要說