Civic groups, political parties in Taiwan protest against sharp rise in defense budget

TAIPEI, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- Multiple civic groups and political parties held a protest in Taipei against Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te's announcement of an additional 40 billion U.S. dollars in defense spending for purchasing U.S. arms.

The protesters called for an immediate halt to the reckless military purchases by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities at the expense of people's livelihoods, and urged the restoration of peaceful dialogue between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.

Wu Jung-yuan, chairman of the Labor Party in Taiwan, said the DPP authorities are pushing separatist agenda and exorbitant military expenditure at the cost of people's wellbeing.

"Taiwan people are at a critical moment of awakening and self-rescue. We should safeguard livelihoods and peace," he said.

What Taiwan people want is a peaceful and secure cross-Strait relationship, said Huang Te-pei, secretary-general of the Left Party in Taiwan, urging efforts to firmly oppose the increase of defense budget to purchase U.S. arms.

Labor Party deputy secretary-general Hsu Meng-hsiang said Lai was attempting to brainwash the public by portraying the mainland as a so-called "external hostile force," so as to claim that buying U.S. arms is necessary to resist so-called "aggression" from the mainland.

Such a claim by Lai is utter nonsense, Hsu said.

The protesters have also released a statement, noting that Taiwan people have long endured low wages, high housing costs and inadequate elderly care and medical services, and they should not become bargaining chips for the DPP authorities and U.S. arms dealers.

"Taiwan people have no obligation to bear these consequences, and have never agreed to take risks alongside the DPP authorities and external powers," the statement said. Enditem