China criticizes Taiwan for exaggerating threats. Gu Lixiong: Increasing defense budget will create effective deterrence

President Lai Ching-te mentioned the threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party to the region in his National Day speech, but China criticized and exaggerated it, claiming that Taiwan's increase in defense budget would crowd out people's livelihood expenditures. In response, Defense Minister Gu Lixiong said in an interview at the Legislative Yuan today (14th) that increasing the defense budget to enhance our self-defense capabilities is an effective deterrent and an approach to maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

The Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee of the Legislative Yuan today invited Defense Minister Gu Lixiong, Transportation Minister Chen Shikai and the Civil Aviation Administration to report on "Reshaping the Military and Civil Aviation Functions of National Airports with the Relocation of Songshan Airport and the Expansion of Taichung Airport" and prepared for questions.

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In response to China's criticism of Taiwan for exaggerating threats and even claiming that Taiwan's increase in defense budget will crowd out spending on people's livelihood, previous Japanese polls believe that China is the biggest threat to world peace. In this regard, Gu Lixiong responded in an interview before the meeting that the only way to avoid war is to form an effective deterrent, and effective deterrence relies on strength, and relying on strength is to enhance our self-defense capabilities and determination.

He emphasized that increasing our defense budget to enhance our self-defense capabilities will create effective deterrence and maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The Ministry of National Defense believes that this is a long-term and consistent idea.

As for Taipei Mayor Chiang Wanan's previous proposal to relocate Songshan Airport, Gu Lixiong emphasized that the relocation of Songshan Airport involves many aspects, including being responsible for domestic shipping, especially air transportation to outlying islands. It is also responsible for medical evacuation tasks and is also an important air crew base for rescue operations.

He emphasized that the Ministry of National Defense has important military tasks, both in peacetime and in wartime, and is also part of the national defense link. Therefore, if we want to consider the relocation of Songshan Airport, how these original functions can be effectively replaced requires careful evaluation. If the central government initiates such an evaluation, the Ministry of National Defense is willing to provide professional advice to ensure that our overall energy will not be affected.