Ranking Member Shaheen, Senator Curtis Welcome Taiwan Legislative Yuan Approval of Supplementary Defense Budget

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and John Curtis (R-UT) released a statement welcoming the approval by Taiwan's Legislative Yuan (LY) of a supplementary defense budget that will strengthen Taiwan's deterrence capabilities against growing People's Republic of China (PRC) aggression. The vote follows a visit to Taipei by the Senators five weeks ago, in which they met Legislative Yuan leaders and urged support for the package. Following that visit, the Senators sent a bipartisan letter to LY Speaker Han and his colleagues noting support not only for the purchase of U.S. arms but also for investment in speedier domestic production of asymmetric capabilities in Taiwan.

"Taiwan's approval of this supplementary defense budget sends a strong signal of resolve at a critical moment for peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific. During our visit to Taipei in March, we urged Taiwan's leaders to move quickly to approve a supplementary defense budget that would accelerate the procurement of critical U.S. defense equipment and strengthen Taiwan's asymmetric capabilities.

"This vote demonstrates that Taiwan is taking seriously the urgent need to strengthen its defenses in the face of Beijing's growing military coercion and pressure campaigns. As the PRC continues to test the limits of what it can achieve through intimidation and aggression, Taiwan's investment in its long-term deterrence makes clear the island's unity and preparedness. We also look forward to additional steps by Taiwan's leaders to further strengthen investments in asymmetric capabilities and domestic defense production, which remain essential to long-term deterrence. The United States' partnership with the people of Taiwan remains rock solid and Congress will continue to support Taiwan's ability to defend itself and preserve stability across the Taiwan Strait."

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