Taipei: Two U.S. senators have called on Taiwan's political parties to expedite the approval of a significant NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.5 billion) defense budget proposed by the Cabinet for the period of 2026-2033. The defense plan has been put forward as essential for ensuring Taiwan's national security.

According to Focus Taiwan, U.S. Senators Jim Risch and Jeanne Shaheen, who are the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee respectively, expressed their disappointment over the stalled progress of the budget proposed by President Lai Ching-te. In a joint statement, they emphasized the need for Taiwan's political parties to collaborate across party lines to fully fund the country's self-defense initiatives.

The senators highlighted recent Chinese military exercises simulating a blockade of Taiwan as an indication of Beijing's intentions and threats to the Indo-Pacific region's freedom. They stressed that the proposed funding is vital for Taiwan's military reforms, societal resilience, and its partnership with the United States.

The legislative review of the Cabinet's special defense budget has faced repeated delays. The main opposition parties, Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People's Party (TPP), have demanded that President Lai brief lawmakers and answer questions regarding the proposal, a request that has been denied by Lai. The TPP, supported by the KMT, has introduced an alternative national defense act that limits arms expenditure to NT$400 billion through 2033 and mandates annual funding allocation.

In response to the U.S. senators' statement, the KMT released a news statement expressing support for a reasonable defense budget and urged the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) to accurately communicate its stance to the U.S. Congress. The KMT pointed out that Taiwan's budgeting system differs from that of the U.S., noting that the Legislature had previously approved over NT$600 billion in defense spending, with this year's budget expected to remain consistent.