TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A bipartisan delegation from the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Monday urged lawmakers to pass the Cabinet’s proposed NT$1.25 trillion (US$40 billion) special defense budget, saying the measure is being closely watched in Washington.
The delegation led by Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Senator John Curtis met with President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) at the Presidential Office on Monday, per CNA. In addition to Shaheen and Curtis, the group includes Senate Taiwan Caucus co-chair Thom Tillis and Senator Jacky Rosen.
Shaheen said the visit underscores long-standing US Congressional support for Taiwan and that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait “are essential to the global economy and to our shared prosperity,” per DRM News. She said the US welcomes the steps Taiwan has taken to strengthen its defenses and resilience, which she described as “critical to sustaining deterrence.”
She also raised concerns about growing pressure from Beijing, including increased military activity around Taiwan, which could heighten the risk of miscalculation. However, she noted that from strengthening its defenses to investing in resilience, ”Taiwan is stepping up."
She added that US-Taiwan relations have evolved over decades, and that the visit sends a clear bipartisan signal that “this relationship will be sustained for decades to come.”
Curtis said, “I’d like to personally endorse the special defense budget and tell you that, back in Washington, my colleagues are watching, this is important.” He added, “We want to make sure that as we invest in this part of the world, you are also investing and that we’re in this together
Tillis said some US allies and NATO partners have shifted their focus away from collective defense over the past 10 to 20 years, leaving them more vulnerable. He said a defense spending gap of up to US$2 trillion over two decades may have contributed to Russian President Vladimir Putin launching the invasion of Ukraine.
He recalled that when he first came to Taiwan as a missionary in 1979, the country was still under martial law, and said it is now celebrating 30 years of democracy. He said Taiwan’s advanced semiconductor industry underpins the global economy and that its stability and security are vital to the US.
He said US-Taiwan relations continue to strengthen, and that Taiwan has made significant progress in areas including defense, whole-of-society resilience, and energy security. He said Washington recognizes Taiwan’s commitment to national security and broadly supports the special defense budget.
Tillis said Taiwan’s decades-long pursuit of freedom shows that peace is built on strength. He said that this strength comes from taking action to support the people of Taiwan and ensuring the country can continue to safeguard its security and sovereignty.
Rosen said growing uncertainty in the Indo-Pacific makes the US-Taiwan partnership more important than ever. She said that the US remains committed to maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and ensuring Taiwan can defend itself.
She added that Taiwan must continue investing in its own defense capabilities, as deterrence is essential to preserving stability.
