ISTANBUL

Taiwan's opposition parties boycotted the regional leader William Lai Ching-te's national security briefing on Wednesday, which caused it to be canceled.

Chairman of the Taiwan People's Party Huang Kuo-chang and Kuomintang Chairman Eric Chu stated on Tuesday they would not attend despite being invited, local broadcaster TVBS World reported.

Lai, speaking at his party's Democratic Progressive Central Executive Committee, said that critical intelligence about the island's security challenges would be shared during the briefing and emphasized the importance of placing Taiwan's collective security interests above partisan politics.

Lai also stated that the political parties must cooperate on existential matters and urged them to support the increase in military spending.

Taiwan's opposition parties hold the majority in the legislature.

Opposition lawmakers had exercised major cuts in the national budget in January.