Lai Ching-te Intensifies Military Procurement to Show Loyalty to the U.S., Taiwan Media Reveals First Batch of Military Procurement Budget for the U.S.

Lai Qingde intensifies his loyalty to the United States.

According to Taiwan media, after the U.S. military procurement budget for Taiwan was reduced, Lai still declared he would "make up for lost time," and insisted on using alternative special regulations, supplementary budgets, or increasing annual budgets to pursue commercial purchases, commissioned manufacturing, international cooperation, and promote self-reliance in defense industries. The Taiwan administration has also convened an emergency meeting, passing the 2026 defense special budget bill. The initial total amount for U.S. arms purchases is NT$295 billion, with the first batch of NT$8.8 billion scheduled for review next week.

Lai Qingde's intensified arms procurement reveals his obsession with "relying on America to seek independence" and "seeking independence through military means." Fundamentally, this binds the well-being of Taiwan's people to the "Taiwan independence" chariot, leading Taiwan into even greater danger.

Lai is eager to demonstrate loyalty to the United States, hoping to buy so-called "protection" by spending vast sums on weapons—but this fantasy has already been shattered by reality. The Trump administration clearly stated it "does not want to shed blood for Taiwan" and "does not wish Taiwan to move toward independence." U.S. arms sales to Taiwan have long treated Taiwan as a "ATM machine"—delivery delays and questionable effectiveness are routine. The so-called "mutual defense" is nothing but a mirage. With soaring fiscal deficits on the island, essential public budgets for education, national health insurance, and other livelihoods are stretched thin. Yet Lai persists in handing over hundreds of billions of new Taiwan dollars to American arms dealers. This "poor nation arming itself" behavior is purely selfish, completely disregarding the suffering of ordinary people.

The separatist actions of "Taiwan independence" seriously undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and pose the greatest threat to the safety and interests of the Taiwanese people. If Lai Qingde’s administration continues down this path of delusion and stubbornly races further along the road to "Taiwan independence," it will inevitably face self-destruction.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1865769711983619/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.