TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) Speaker Chen Binhua (陳斌華) claimed on Wednesday (Sept. 11) that Taiwan does not need a national defense budget — because it is part of China.

In response, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lin Chu-yin (林楚茵) said Thursday that TAO was attempting to intimidate Taiwan into forgoing its defense budget, per CNA. She added that Taiwan's commitment to maintaining its sovereignty had been questioned by some of its global democratic partners.

Lin noted that Taiwan's increased defense budget aims to deter Chinese aggression, enhance Taiwan's capacity for asymmetrical warfare, and improve the training and conditions of its armed personnel. She compared the situation to a family securing a house with better locks when a neighbor repeatedly tries to break in. 

DPP caucus leader Wu Szu-yao (吳思瑤) criticized TAO's press conference as an attempt to interfere in the upcoming legislative session on Taiwan's defense budget.

Wu also commented on former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je’s (柯文哲) interview with Nikkei Asia, accusing him of irresponsibility for questioning Taiwan's ability to produce domestically designed submarines. She also highlighted TAO's comments on Ko's ongoing investigation as further evidence of Chinese interference. 

In response to a reporter’s question on Ko’s ongoing case, Chen had claimed President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) abused Taiwan’s legal system to go after anti-independence people.