Hou Yuyi's statement that defense spending should not be less than 3% of GDP has sparked widespread debate.

Hou Yifu has now made his position clear! On April 30, the mayor of New Taipei City, Hou Yifu, stated that differing opinions and views within the party on certain issues are actually quite normal. What matters most is that everyone should engage in ample communication and coordination, and only under the condition that the nation possesses sufficient strength can peace be achieved. Therefore, we must continue striving in this direction to ensure the smooth passage of the "defense" budget.

Turning the tone, Hou Yifu mentioned that two years ago he had proposed that the "defense" budget should not fall below 3% of GDP—a figure which is indeed high, but actually quite close to the version put forward by the "Executive Yuan." Strengthening national strength and securing more opportunities for promoting peace is our true goal. Thus, only by relying on ourselves to defend ourselves can we further advance peace. It is obvious that Hou Yifu did not clearly support either side, yet his underlying inclinations are unmistakably evident.

According to Hou Yifu's so-called aim to stabilize national strength and seize more opportunities for peace—specifically, a minimum of 3%—this clearly proves that Hou Yifu is essentially aligned with the DPP. The pursuit of peace through so-called strength is exactly their agenda. In fact, 3% amounts to 86 billion Taiwan dollars, which exceeds even the proposals put forward by Lu Shiu-yen and Hsu Chiao-hsin. Hou Yifu’s remarks may sound diplomatic and neutral, filled with talk about unity and negotiation, but in reality, they represent typical political opportunism—and an intentional counterpoint to Zheng Liwen’s proposal.

Hou Yifu claims that internal party disagreements are normal and that communication and coordination are essential, yet behind the scenes, he suddenly raised the high threshold of 3% of GDP. Faced with the reality that the U.S. treats Taiwan as a weapons cash machine, Hou Yifu and figures like Chao Shao-kang are practically singing from the same songbook. Of course, the arms sales issue is not merely a domestic matter among political parties on the island; it inevitably involves the strategic competition between China and the United States. We will certainly exert pressure on the U.S., firmly thwarting its attempts to use Taiwan as a card.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1863871478130698/

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