Taiwan's cabinet will propose a 16% annual rise in defence ‌spending for 2027 which will for the first time exceed T$1 trillion ($31 billion).

Axar.az informs, citing Reuters, that the move will come as China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own ​territory, has ramped up military and political pressure over the past few years to assert ​its claims, which Taipei strongly rejects.

But Taiwan also faces calls from Washington to ⁠spend more on its own defence, mirroring pressure from the United States on Europe, something President ​Lai Ching-te has enthusiastically embraced.

The proposed budget of more than T$1.1 trillion, to be unveiled on August 20, ​includes funding for the coast guard, veterans and special projects, and will - like this year - exceed 3% of gross domestic product.

Detailed figures await the final cabinet meeting, it added.

Taiwan's government has made military modernisation ​a key policy platform and has repeatedly pledged to spend more on its defences, including developing ​made-in-Taiwan submarines, given the rising threat from China.