Taiwan’s Lai plans $40 bn defence upgrade to tackle Chinese threat — he hits political hurdle

Taiwan's $40 billion military spending plan is stalled due to a political standoff between President Lai Ching-te and opposition lawmakers, who demand political concessions. The deadlock raises concerns about Taiwan's ability to strengthen defenses amid rising pressure from China and questions its reliability as a US security partner. Both sides accuse each other of undermining the rule of law, with disputes over budget control, constitutional court nominees, and the direction of Taiwan's foreign policy.