Taiwan Passes Extra $8.6 Billion Military Spending Bill

The $8.6 billion is on top of the $17 billion annual military budget for 2022

On Tuesday, Taiwan’s parliament passed an additional military spending bill worth $8.6 billion as the island looks to procure more weapons.

The $8.6 billion is in addition to Taiwan’s record-high $17 billion military budget for 2022. The extra funds will be used to acquire more missiles and to expedite the manufacturing of naval ships.

Washington has been pressuring Taiwan to spend more on its military so the island could purchase more US arms. Since Washington severed diplomatic relations with Taipei in 1979, the US has continued to sell weapons to Taiwan, and US support for the island has been increasing in recent years.

Some US lawmakers want to start giving Taiwan military aid. Towards the end of last year, Republican lawmakers introduced legislation that would give the island billions in military aid.

Taiwan is also working on domestically manufacturing more military hardware. Over the weekend, Taiwan held naval exercises with its domestically-made corvette ships that are armed with medium-range air defense missiles, anti-ship missiles, and 76-millimeter cannons.

Author: Dave DeCamp

Dave DeCamp is the news editor of Antiwar.com, follow him on Twitter @decampdave.