TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Tuesday reaffirmed Taiwan’s commitment to defense during a meeting with the visiting US Republican Study Committee delegation led by Representative Zach Nunn.

The president said China has in recent years frequently conducted gray-zone operations and military exercises around Taiwan, severely undermining regional peace and stability, per the Presidential Office. Taiwan knows that peace must be backed by strength and that strength must be resilient, Lai said. He pledged to boost defense capabilities and maintain regional peace and stability.

Lai said Taiwan’s defense budget this year has exceeded 3% of GDP, in line with NATO standards, and is expected to reach 5% of GDP by 2030. The government has also proposed an eight-year, NT$1.25 trillion (US$40 billion) special defense budget plan to expand defense investment and strengthen asymmetric capabilities, he said.

Taiwan will also cooperate with advanced defense industry partners such as the US to build a line of defense for freedom and democracy, he added.

Nunn said his delegation’s visit reaffirms US support for Taiwan. His trip aims to understand the challenges Taiwan currently faces and will face in the future, the representative said. The delegation recognizes that Taiwan faces real security threats and believes in the principle of “peace through strength,” he said.

Nunn said that upon returning to Washington, DC, the delegation will brief fellow congresspeople on Taiwan’s importance to US security and prosperity, and the future of global freedom.