Taipei: A group of United States lawmakers has called on Taiwan’s parliament to approve a major defence spending plan, warning that delays could weaken the island’s ability to deter growing military pressure from China.
In a joint letter signed by dozens of bipartisan members of Congress, the lawmakers urged Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan to pass a proposed defence package worth about 40 billion dollars. They said strengthening Taiwan’s defence readiness is essential as regional security risks continue to rise.
The spending proposal was put forward by President Lai Ching te to enhance military preparedness and support weapons purchases, including systems linked to defence cooperation with the United States. Taiwan relies heavily on US supplied equipment to modernize its forces and maintain deterrence.
However, the budget remains stalled due to political disagreements. The ruling Democratic Progressive Party supports the full package, arguing it is necessary for national security. Opposition parties have raised concerns about the scale of the spending and are pushing for revisions and stronger oversight. Some alternative proposals could reduce funding for key defence systems.
Taiwan’s defence officials have warned that continued delays could weaken the island’s defensive line and disrupt military planning. There are also concerns that postponements may affect arms deliveries and production schedules, potentially delaying the arrival of missiles, artillery and other systems already in the procurement pipeline.
Washington views the issue as urgent. US lawmakers cautioned that failure to approve the budget could send the wrong signal about Taiwan’s commitment to self defence and undermine defence cooperation between the two sides. Under US law, Washington is obligated to help Taiwan maintain the capacity to defend itself and remains its main arms supplier.
The urgency comes amid increasing Chinese military activity near Taiwan. Beijing, which claims Taiwan as its territory, has intensified air and naval operations around the island and opposes foreign military support for Taipei. China has repeatedly warned against US arms sales and political backing for Taiwan.
Security analysts say the defence budget debate comes at a critical moment for regional stability. Taiwan sits at the center of Indo Pacific security dynamics, and its defence posture is closely watched by both allies and adversaries.
Parliamentary negotiations are expected to continue in the coming weeks, with attention focused on whether lawmakers will approve the full defence package or adopt a reduced version. The outcome could shape Taiwan’s military readiness and influence cross strait tensions in the months ahead.