Taiwan's Lai Says Defence Boost Aims to Deter War

Taiwan President William Lai Ching-te marked National Day by saying increased defence spending aims to deter war, not provoke it, as China condemned his speech. Taipei has set a record NT$1.1 trillion ($34.5bn) for 2027 defence, over 3 percent of GDP. China's Taiwan Affairs Office accused Lai of separatist thinking and distorting the truth.