Taipei: A former Canadian defense chief has advised Taiwan to raise its defense spending in the face of growing military threats from China to show it is determined to defend itself instead of solely relying on the United States' support. Jason Kenney, who served as Canada's defense minister in 2015 and was Alberta premier from 2019 to 2022, emphasized the need for Taiwan to increase its military budget during an interview with CNA.
According to Focus Taiwan, Kenney highlighted Canada's commitment to increasing its defense spending to 5 percent of annual GDP by 2035, following pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump has consistently urged America's allies to invest more in defense, accusing them of underfunding their military efforts. Currently, Canada's defense spending is approximately 1.37 percent of its GDP.
Kenney noted that despite Canada's lesser military threat compared to Taiwan, his country is willing to boost its defense budget significantly. He expressed confusion over Taiwan's internal debates on increasing its national defense spending, given the direct military coercion it faces from Beijing. Kenney asserted that Taiwan cannot expect future U.S. administrations to defend it against Chinese military aggression if Taiwan does not demonstrate its commitment to self-defense.
In addition to his role in Alberta, Kenney led the United Conservative Party (UCP) from 2017 until 2022 and held various cabinet positions under Prime Minister Stephen Harper from 2006 to 2015. During his leadership in Alberta, Taiwan donated 50,000 medical-grade face masks to Alberta and British Columbia amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Kenney publicly thanked Taiwan for this gesture, displaying his support on social media.
Regarding potential repercussions from the Chinese government, Kenney stated he has always been a strong advocate for Taiwan and remains unfazed by any negative reactions from the People's Republic of China. He emphasized the shared democratic values between Taiwan and Canada, urging Canadians to support Taiwan against aggression.
Kenney is visiting Taiwan to speak at the annual Taipei-based regional security Ketagalan Forum. Since 2017, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has co-hosted the forum with domestic think tanks to foster dialogue and cooperation for peace, security, and prosperity in the region.