Taiwanese president vows to strengthen island's defences in Lunar New Year message

President Lai thanked Taiwan's armed forces and pledged to bolster the island's defences in a Lunar New Year address, while his proposal for an extra $40bn in defence spending has not been reviewed by the opposition-controlled legislature.

President Lai Ching-te thanked Taiwan's armed forces and pledged to strengthen the island's defences in a Lunar New Year address. He spoke from a high-altitude radar station on the island's central mountain range. The remarks came as military and political pressure from China has increased. The government's Lunar New Year video also featured footage of Taiwan's first domestically developed submarine, which is reported to be in undersea trials. Key points: - Lai thanked troops and the coast guard and called for continued strengthening of national defence capabilities and public security. - He delivered the address from a high-altitude radar station atop the central mountain range. - The government video included footage of Taiwan's first domestically developed submarine in reported undersea trials. - Mr Lai's proposed extra $40bn in defence spending has not been reviewed by the opposition-controlled legislature, which has advanced its own lower-cost proposals. Summary: Lai's message underscored a continued focus on defence as tensions with China persist. The defence spending proposal has not moved to legislative review and the timing for further consideration is undetermined at this time.