TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A senior US official said Sunday that Washington was disappointed after Taiwan’s opposition-controlled legislature approved a pared-down version of the special defense budget.
A senior US official told Reuters, “Our position on Taiwan's defense budget ... is that it was disappointing in that there was some stuff left on the cutting room floor that we believe still needs to be funded.” The official added that the US hopes the remaining portions of the original proposal will eventually be funded.
In November, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) announced in a Washington Post op-ed that he would propose a NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.81 billion) special defense budget. After months of debate, the Legislative Yuan passed a substantially reduced NT$780 billion version pushed by opposition lawmakers in a 59-51 vote.
CNA cited a senior US official as saying on Sunday that Taiwan could be discussed during the upcoming meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The official said the issue resembles US-China discussions on Iran and Russia in that it involves a regional flashpoint or potential hotspot.
The official said Trump and Xi have discussed Taiwan in several previous interactions over the years. During those exchanges, US policy remained unchanged, and no policy shift is expected going forward.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said Trump is scheduled to arrive in Beijing on Wednesday evening, reported Kyodo News. On Thursday, Trump will attend a welcome ceremony and summit meeting with Xi before visiting the Temple of Heaven and attending a state banquet.
Kelly said Trump will attend a tea meeting and a working lunch with Xi on Friday morning before departing China.
