TAIPEI: Taiwan can well afford a US$40 billion special defence budget given its booming economy, President Lai Ching-te said on Saturday (Mar 14), citing a US emphasis on collective burden-sharing.Lai's proposed spending, which he says is needed to better face a rising threat from China, has been bogged

TAIPEI: Taiwan can well afford a US$40 billion special defence budget given its booming economy, President Lai Ching-te said on Saturday (Mar 14), citing a US emphasis on collective burden-sharing.Lai's proposed spending, which he says is needed to better face a rising threat from China, has been bogged