TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — US Senators Elissa Slotkin and Thom Tillis, bipartisan co-chairs of the Senate Taiwan Caucus, issued a joint statement Monday strongly backing Taiwan’s proposed NT$1.25 trillion (US$40 billion) special defense budget as essential for deterring China.
The statement highlights the budget as a vital investment in Taiwan’s self-defense against growing threats from China, funding weapons procurement and joint US development from 2026 to 2033. Slotkin and Tillis urged Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan parties to advance the defense budget in a unified manner to bolster Indo-Pacific stability.
Taiwan’s Cabinet approved the special budget in late November to enhance missiles, drones, AI capabilities, and asymmetric warfare tools, with President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) pushing for defense spending over 3% of GDP next year. Opposition KMT and TPP lawmakers blocked its agenda placement in early December, demanding Lai explain expenditures despite DPP support.
The chairs’ statement read: “This package represents a vital investment in Taiwan’s self-defense and a clear demonstration of Taipei’s commitment to deterrence, resilience, and responsibility-sharing.”
“Members of both parties in the US Senate — including leaders on the Armed Services, Foreign Relations, and Appropriations Committees — have spoken with one voice in support of Taiwan’s efforts to accelerate critical defense capabilities.”
The statement continued: “We commend Taiwan’s leaders for continuing to take difficult but necessary steps to modernize its military, harden critical infrastructure, and build the stockpiles and systems required to deter aggression.”
