US Defense Secretary Urges Allies to Increase Military Spending; Wellington Koo: Taiwan Willing to Fulfill Responsibilities

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth urged Asian allies today to increase military spending to counter China's growing influence. Taiwan's Defense Minister Wellington Koo stated that Taiwan will continue to strengthen its self-defense capabilities, maintain close military exchanges and cooperation with the US, and fulfill its responsibility as a regional partner to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. The 2026 Shangri-La Dialogue is being held in Singapore from the 29th to the 31st. When asked about Hegseth's speech, Koo emphasized that the overall message was about defending peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region with strength and sharing the responsibility of deterrence. At the event, the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) showcased equipment including the 'Jingfeng-1' drone, which Minister Koo inspected.