TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Bolstering defense is an investment in Taiwan's future, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) said Sunday.
Hsiao said in a Facebook post that peace must be built on Taiwan's ability to defend itself. She warned that a weak Taiwan amid the expansion of authoritarianism would undermine the efforts of soldiers on the front lines and cause the international community to question its commitment to national security.
With US trust and support, Taiwan has become the only overseas drone certification hub, Hsiao said. Many local companies have also successfully entered the global market for key military components through cross-border technology licensing, she said.
This means defense investment will drive diversified industrial applications in Taiwan, Hsiao said. The vice president said this is the most solid foundation for building whole-of-society defense resilience.
Hsiao said she hoped both the ruling and opposition parties could build consensus on national security issues. “When it comes to national security, we are one family, all in the same boat, with no room for division or internal strife,” she said.
