Taiwan must significantly increase its defense budget to counter any military threat from China, a senior U.S. official told an audience in Taipei.

David Henley, principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, told the U.S.-Taiwan Defense Industry Conference that Taiwan's proposed $1.4 billion increase in the defense budget is inadequate, the South China Morning Post reported.

"These increases, while a step in the right direction, however are insufficient to ensure that Taiwan can leverage its geography, advanced technology, workforce and patriotic population to channel Taiwan's inherent advantages necessary for a resilient defense," Henley said.

He advised Taiwan to invest in "large numbers of small capabilities," suggesting mobile cruise missiles, both purchased and domestically made, to defend the island, according to the Taipei Times.

China has long regarded the island nation as a breakaway province of the mainland.

Taiwan's defense department noted that China has sent warplanes into Taiwan's air defense identification zone 217 times in 2020 in a show of force, adding to other provocations that suggest China could resort to armed force to overtake the island of strengthen its South China Sea claims.

The day after Henley's comments, Taiwan Defense Minister Yen Te-fa told legislators that a budget increase to the air force was required.

In his address, Henley reiterated U.S. diplomatic commitments to provide Taiwan with material and services necessary for its self-defense capabilities.

A lack of interest in a military career is a part of Taiwan's defense problem, shaped by prior episodes of martial law, officials say. It phased out its military conscription policy in 2013 and currently has about 165,000 active duty personnel, a figure down from 275,000 three years ago, according to the L.A. Times.

"Taiwan doesn't have that culture where you can go out in the street wearing your fatigues with pride," said Huang Chung-ting, of the Institute for National Defense and Security Research in Taipei. "Soldiers leave as soon as they've completed national service. That's a big problem. A lot of people think a good man doesn't become a soldier."

The China's People's Liberation Army has about two million personnel.

Related Links
Taiwan News at SinoDaily.com

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Tsai defiant as Taiwan's anti-China jet flights double
Taipei (AFP) Oct 6, 2020
Taiwan will not "yield an inch" in defending itself, President Tsai Ing-wen warned Tuesday, as new figures revealed the island is scrambling fighter jets at more than double the rate of last year in response to Chinese incursions. Authoritarian China views democratic Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to one day seize it, by force if necessary, even though the island has been self-ruled for the last seven decades. Taipei's fighters have taken to the skies to ward off Chinese warplanes mor ... read more