Defense among priorities for premierLIVELIHOODS, DEVELOPMENT: Su Tseng-chang wrote that the defense budget is to reach a record, while families and admission to the CPTPP are other key itemsBy Chien Hui-ju / Staff reporterAn increased defense budget, improving people’s livelihoods and pushing for sustainable development were among the items Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) presented in a written report to the Legislative Yuan yesterday. Frequent Chinese military incursions into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone have destabilized regional security, Su wrote in the report. “Only if we help ourselves will other countries come to our aid in a time of need.”The defense budget for next year is a record NT$470 billion (US$16.95 billion), it said. Taiwan’s fleet of 141 US-made F-16A/B fighters are being upgraded to F-16Vs, with Taiwan’s first F-16V wing to be commissioned in November to bolster the nation’s strategic air defense, the report said. Taiwan has filed an application to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the report said.

Source: Taipei Times September 24, 2021 15:56 UTC