US lawmakers express support for stalled Taiwan special defense budget
TAIPEI, Taiwan — The United States supports the Taiwan government’s efforts to pass a special $40 billion defense budget that is stalled in the opposition-controlled Parliament, a group of visiting U.S. lawmakers said Monday.
A bipartisan group of four senators arrived in Taiwan as part of a trip to Asia aimed at strengthening U.S. alliances and countering China’s influence in the region, ahead of a planned summit in May between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Democratic Senators Jeanne Shaheen (New Hampshire) and Jacky Rosen (Nevada) and Republican Senators John Curtis (Utah) and Thom Tillis (North Carolina) met with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te on Monday at the start of a two-day trip aimed at strengthening informal ties between the two sides.
China claims Taiwan as its own breakaway province, which can be retaken by force if necessary, and bars all its diplomatic partners, including the United States, from having formal ties with Taipei.
The United States, although it does not recognize Taiwan as a country, is the island’s main informal donor and arms supplier.
Massive US arms sales to Taiwan are expected to be discussed at the Xi-Trump summit, with China opposing the sales.
A spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry criticized the congressional visit on Monday, urging the United States to “handle the Taiwan issue cautiously and properly, end all forms of official exchanges with Taiwan, and stop sending the wrong signals to Taiwan’s pro-independence separatist forces.”
“China’s position on the Taiwan-related issue is consistent and clear,” spokesman Mao Ning said. “China will take necessary measures to firmly safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
During the meeting with Lai, Curtis praised Taiwan’s progress “in strengthening its defense, whole-of-society preparedness and energy security, particularly over the past year.”
“The seriousness is being noticed in Washington DC, and your efforts on the special defense budget are also being noticed and supported,” he said.
Taiwan’s government is trying to advance a special $40 billion defense budget that, over eight years, would invest in building a sophisticated missile defense system dubbed the “T-Dome,” integrating artificial intelligence into national defense and developing Taiwan’s indigenous defense industry, among other things.
The budget is currently stuck in Parliament, with opposition parties proposing smaller defense budgets.
Lai renewed his calls for Parliament to pass the special defense budget “without delay”.
“I want to reassure you and all our friends in the United States that my government’s resolve and commitment to strengthening our self-defense capabilities, strengthening Taiwan-US cooperation, and ensuring national security remains unwavering,” he told visiting lawmakers.
Opposition leader KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun said Monday she would visit China next month to try to promote “peaceful” relations with Beijing. Cheng had previously expressed interest in meeting with Xi, although it was unclear whether a meeting with the Chinese leader was on the agenda for his trip.
Beijing refuses to speak to Lai and calls him a separatist who wants to turn Taiwan into a “powder keg”.
