The Debate

To Strengthen Defense, Taiwan Must Revamp Its Military Procurement 

Recent Features

The Debate | Opinion | East Asia

To Strengthen Defense, Taiwan Must Revamp Its Military Procurement 

Recurring corruption scandals shed light on the lack of accountability in military procurement decisions. 

To Strengthen Defense, Taiwan Must Revamp Its Military Procurement 

The 234th Mechanized Infantry Brigade, Republic of China (Taiwan) Army, holds drills, Jan. 6, 2023.

Credit: Office of the President, ROC (Taiwan) / Wang Yu Ching

As a country significantly facing external threats from China, Taiwan has consistently prioritized military procurement – whether by purchasing foreign arms or relying on domestic defense suppliers – as an essential component in strengthening its self-defense capabilities. In November 2024, media reports revealed that the Taiwanese government was “considering buying a big package of U.S. weapons” in response to incoming U.S. President Donald Trump’s expectation that Taiwan would need to increase its defense budget.

In fact, Taiwan’s military spending has grown significantly since the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) assumed office in 2016. Defense spending is expected to rise to $20.25 billion next year, representing an increase from 2.38 percent of GDP this year to 2.45 percent in 2025. 

[...]
Dreaming of a career in the Asia-Pacific?
Try The Diplomat's jobs board.
Find your Asia-Pacific job