The U.S. lawmakers visiting Taiwan on Monday said the United States supports Taipei’s push to advance a special defense budget of $40 billion that Taiwan’s opposition-controlled parliament has not yet approved, according to remarks made after meetings with President Lai Ching-te in Taipei.
The senators—Democrats Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Jacky Rosen of Nevada, along with Republicans John Curtis of Utah and Thom Tillis of North Carolina—arrived as part of an Asia trip aimed at strengthening U.S. alliances and countering China’s influence in the region, ahead of a summit planned for May between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. At the start of the two-day visit, the group met Lai to discuss Taiwan’s defense planning and the effort to keep ties and security cooperation moving amid growing regional tensions.
During the meeting, Curtis praised Taiwan’s progress on strengthening its defense, whole-of-society preparedness and energy security, adding that the seriousness of Taiwan’s defense push is “noticed in Washington D.C.” and that Taiwan’s special defense budget effort is “also noticed and supported,” according to the account of the meeting.
Taiwan’s government is seeking passage of the $40 billion special defense budget, which would direct investments over eight years to projects including building a sophisticated missile defense system called “T-dome,” integrating artificial intelligence into national defense, and developing Taiwan’s indigenous defense industry. The budget is currently stalled in parliament, where opposition parties are proposing smaller defense budgets.
Lai renewed calls for parliament to pass the special defense budget “without delay,” saying to the visiting lawmakers that his government’s resolve and commitment to enhancing Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities, strengthening Taiwan-U.S. cooperation, and ensuring national security “remain unwavering.”
The visit comes as China rejects the idea of formal diplomatic ties between the U.S. and Taiwan, arguing that Taiwan is a breakaway province and saying it would retake the island by force if necessary, while also prohibiting its diplomatic partners from maintaining official ties with Taipei. The U.S., while not recognizing Taiwan as a country, is described as the island’s strongest informal backer and arms provider, with massive U.S. arms sales to Taiwan expected to be discussed at the Trump-Xi summit, as China pushes against those sales.
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson criticized the lawmakers’ trip, urging the U.S. to “handle the Taiwan question prudently and properly, stop all forms of official exchanges with Taiwan, and stop sending any wrong signals to Taiwan independence separatist forces.” Spokesperson Mao Ning said “China’s position on the Taiwan-related issue is consistent and clear” and that “China will take necessary measures to firmly safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
In Taiwan, the opposition leader KMT chairwoman Cheng Li-wun said Monday she planned to visit China next month to promote “peaceful” relations with Beijing, and she had previously expressed interest in meeting Xi, though it was not clear if such a meeting was on her agenda. China has refused to speak to Lai and has labeled him a separatist who wants to turn Taiwan into a “powder keg.”