Taiwan president says defence spending boost aims to ‘deter war’

Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te stated that the island values peace and will not give up its freedom during a National Day speech in Taipei. He emphasized that increasing defense investment is intended to deter war, not provoke it. Taiwanese fighter jets and two Chinook helicopters with large Taiwan flags flew over the capital before his speech. The holiday commemorates the 115th anniversary of the 1911 uprising that overthrew China's last imperial dynasty and established the Republic of China.