Hundreds rally in Taipei for defence spending after parliament cuts funds

Hundreds of people rallied in central Taipei on Saturday in support of government plans to increase defence spending, after the opposition controlled parliament approved only two-thirds of the US$40 billion Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te had requested.



Lai wanted the supplementary defence budget approved, including money for US arms but also for domestically made equipment such as drones to increase deterrence against China, which views the island as its own territory.



But the opposition, which has the most seats in parliament, this month passed its own version of the spending package, and only for US arms, saying the government proposals were unclear and could lead to corruption.



The Taipei protest was organised by several human rights and pro-independence groups, who waved flags and shouted slogans in support of defence spending.



The government is now trying to get the rest of the money approved, including for its new "T-Dome" integrated air defence system.