TAIWAN-US-CHINA-DEFENCE
Taiwans President Lai Ching-te (C) meets with Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (R) and Presidential Office Secretary-General Pan Men-an at the Presidential Office Building in Taipei on February 10, 2026. Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te warned that countries in the region would be China's next targets should Beijing seize the democratic island, as he insisted on the need for Taiwan to dramatically shore up its defences. Speaking to AFP in his first interview with a global news agency since taking office in May 2024, Lai said he was confident parliament will approve an additional $40 billion budget to fund crucial defence purchases, including weapons from the United States. (Photo by Yu Chen CHENG / AFP) / To go with 'TAIWAN-US-CHINA-DEFENCE, EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW' by Allison Jackson and Phil Chetwynd
foto Yu Chen Cheng
FotoID: HN:20260212476811
