Taiwan defense doubts raised in US’ CRS reportBy Fion Khan / Staff writer, with CNAThe partisan standoff over President William Lai’s (賴清德) proposed defense budget has raised questions about the nation’s ability to adequately fund its own defense, the US Congressional Research Service (CRS) said in a report released on Tuesday. The report, titled Taiwan: Defense and Military Issues, said the government has increased its defense budget at an average annual rate of 5 percent from 2019 to 2023, with about 2.5 percent of its GDP spent on defense in 2024. Photo: ReutersHowever, Taiwan faces domestic challenges in realizing its defense goals, as policymakers disagree over how best to deter China, the report added. Meanwhile, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has undergone a decades-long modernization program focused on developing the capabilities needed to annex Taiwan, the report said. Taiwan has certain advantages, such as US political and military support, and its geography, the report said.

Source: Taipei Times February 06, 2026 17:13 UTC