Taipei: The top United States military commander in the Indo-Pacific has issued a stern warning to Taiwan, emphasizing the importance of demonstrating a strong commitment to its own defense. This includes the passage of a NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.69 billion) special defense budget, which is essential to secure continued U.S. support.According to Focus Taiwan, Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, addressed the issue during a U.S. Senate hearing. He underscored the critical nature of Taiwan's defense spending, especially as the Legislature remains deadlocked over the proposed special budget. Paparo used the analogy of starving chickens to highlight the necessity of sustained defense funding amidst ongoing military pressure from China.Paparo reiterated that the longstanding U.S. policy towards Taiwan remains unchanged, with arms sales under the Taiwan Relations Act being a norm for nearly five decades. However, he stressed that U.S. support is contingent upon Taiwan's demonstrate d resolve to defend itself. "We can't want Taiwan's defense more than they want it themselves," Paparo stated.The proposed NT$1.25 trillion special defense budget, put forward by President Lai Ching-te for 2025, has faced resistance from opposition parties. They have proposed alternative budgets ranging from NT$380 billion to NT$400 billion, which would cover an US$11.1 billion arms package announced by the U.S. in January 2025 but fall short of future arms purchases and domestic drone programs.Deputy Defense Minister Hsu Szu-chien indicated that nearly three-quarters of the proposed special budget would be allocated for purchasing weapons from the U.S. Meanwhile, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen expressed her support for the passage of Taiwan's special budget, viewing it as a signal to both China and the U.S. Congress of Taiwan's commitment to its defense.Republican Senator Tom Cotton raised concerns about whether a recent visit to China by Kuomintang Chair Cheng Li-wun could influence future defense spendi ng. Paparo responded that the outcome of the special budget would reveal Taiwan's commitment to self-defense. He also expressed strong confidence in Taiwan's willingness to defend itself, citing polling data that showed high levels of resolve.The Senate hearing followed a bipartisan letter sent on April 14 by U.S. senators to Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu, urging the swift passage of military procurement legislation in light of persistent pressure from China.