TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Secretary-General Lin Yu-chang (林右昌) continued his 13-day tour of the US and said Taiwan has increased defense spending by 70% under the DPP administration.

Speaking in Washington DC, at an event hosted by the Global Taiwan Institute (GTI) on Tuesday (Sept. 3), Lin said it's rare for democratic nations to undertake such a large increase in military spending. Lin said he believes the DPP is committed to military spending as China’s intention to retake Taiwan remains unchanged.

Lin credited former Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), for her commitment to defense spending and implementing defense reforms during her tenure such as weapons procurement and domestic production of aircraft and ships. Military culture was also reformed under Tsai's leadership, such as extending compulsory military training to one year, per CNA.

Lin said Taiwan’s increased military spending is partly due to the cost of high-tech modern weapons systems and an emphasis on improving asymmetric combat capabilities. Other important changes in defense policy during eight years of the DPP administration include strengthening defense resilience and improving deterrence.

Lin also responded to defense analysts who have called upon Taiwan to increase military spending to between 3-5% of gross domestic product (GDP). According to Lin, the amount of defense spending is not as important as spending in the right areas.

Elbridge A Colby, former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Strategy and Force Development under the Trump administration, penned an article in May when he called upon Taiwan to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP to show commitment. Another expert, David Sacks, fellow for Asia studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, has similarly supported a 5% of GDP benchmark for defense spending.