TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — In response to a prospective US defense official’s call for Taiwan to raise military spending, Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said Thursday the government will gradually work toward President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) target of 5%.

John Noh, nominee for US Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, told Congress on Tuesday that Taiwan faces an existential threat and should increase defense spending to 10% of GDP, per CNA. He said military reforms should focus on training and mobilization.

At a Legislative Yuan session, Koo said Taiwan’s defense budget is based on the threats it faces and its capability-building goals. He added that included developing asymmetric capabilities, strengthening defense resilience, and enhancing reserve forces.

The minister said Lai has pledged to raise defense spending, with core defense expenditures expected to surpass 3% of GDP next year and rise to 5%. He added that fiscal constraints must also be considered,

Koo said defense reform process is ongoing, involving improvements to the reserve and mobilization systems. Through war games and live-force verification, Taiwan aims to build a capable and battle-ready military force.

Former US Deputy National Security Advisor Matt Pottinger warned on Sept. 18 that even without launching a full-scale war, China could trigger “a very serious crisis” in Taiwan within four years through economic or administrative means. Koo responded that Taiwan must adopt a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to build resilience against both military and non-military coercion.