Taiwan's President Lai says Indo-Pacific nations are raising defense budgets and Taiwan must do the same, while he thanks US for its support of Taiwan's defence

Taiwan's President Lai's remarks about raising defense budgets in the Indo-Pacific underline the ongoing regional tensions and the importance of defense spending amid security concerns.

Newsquawk StaffPublished 11 Feb 2026, 02:24 UTCOn the live feed at 02:04 UTC — 1 more headline followed before this page went public

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Taiwan's President Lai says Indo-Pacific nations are raising defense budgets and Taiwan must do the same, while he thanks US for its support of Taiwan's defence

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Context

This acknowledgment of U.S. support hints at a strengthening of military partnerships, which could influence market sentiment around regional equities and defense-related assets. Investors may want to consider potential implications for stability in the region and the impact on commodities like defense stocks or currencies linked to Taiwan's trading partners.

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