Taiwan plans extra $40bn in defence spending to counter China’s ‘intensifying’ threats

President Lai Ching-te declared there was no room for compromise on national security' in face of escalating harassment and espionage

Beijing's threats to Taiwan are intensifying" and its preparations to invade are speeding up, Taiwan's government has said while announcing a $40bn special defence budget and a swathe of measures to counter Chinese attacks.

The Taiwan president, Lai Ching-te, said there was no room for compromise on national security", and he was committed to boosting Taiwan's defences in conjunction with US support.