taipei taiwan increase future defense spend two percent year president tsai ing-wen say visit hawaii unite state express concern possible military imbalance taiwan straits taiwan media report event taiwan purchase arm foreign military island defense spend could increase much three percent year could possibly increase use special budget significant purchase case make tsai say remark carry official media monday tsai make comment response u.s. concern possible military imbalance taiwan strait express ambassador jam moriarty meet tsai elaborate increase defense spend would start tsai comment reflect national security council deputy secretary-general tsai ming-yen recount official media conversation tsai moriarty chairman u.s. mission taiwan expand taiwan national defense policy moriarty express concern china double-digit growth defense investments last years taiwan would need address possible military imbalance taiwan strait deputy secretary-general tsai recount president tsai turn reply taiwan would develop comprehensive plan accordance strategic need short-term need long-term plan create defense force island would reliable combat effectiveness tsai visit hawaii weekend way three taiwan diplomatic ally pacific despite china consider taiwan wayward province call unite state stop trip trip come week u.s. president donald trump visit asia china increase pressure taiwan since tsai take office last year suspect want push formal independence china conduct military drill around taiwan peel away remain diplomatic ally tsai describe taiwan-u.s. relations unprecedentedly friendly comment release taiwan presidential office monday happy see u.s. promise peace stability asia-pacific region meet unite state understand necessity increase investment defense quote say unite state taiwan formal diplomatic relations since washington establish tie beijing 1979 unite state bind law provide taiwan mean defend taiwan well arm mostly u.s.-made weapons push sales advance equipment fighter jet deal taipei see grow threat china rapidly modernize arm force china never renounce use force bring taiwan control regularly call taiwan sensitive important issue unite state upset u.s. move expand military exchange taiwan continue u.s. arm sales island tsai stopover hawaii include tour pearl harbor memorial banquet overseas taiwan community joint speeches moriarty chairman u.s. mission taiwan also know american institute taiwan second u.s. visit year january tsai stop houston san francisco way latin america tsai move visit marshall islands tuvalu solomon islands monday week-long trip stop u.s. territory guam way back taiwan taiwan boost defense spend u.s. concern possible military imbalance official media