TAIPEI
Taiwan’s opposition-controlled parliament approved extra defence spending of $25 billion on Friday, or just about two-thirds of the amount sought by the government to bolster the armed forces in the face of a rapidly modernising Chinese military. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te had wanted a T$1.25 trillion ($39.81 billion) supplementary defence package approved, including money for U.S. arms but also for domestically made equipment such as drones to increase deterrence against China, which views the island as its own territory. But the opposition, which has the most seats in parliament, passed its own version of the spending package worth T$780 billion ($24.86 billion), saying the government proposals were unclear and could lead to corruption.
