US lawmakers step up pressure on Taiwan politicians

A bipartisan group of 37 U.S. lawmakers have written to senior Taiwanese politicians expressing concern about parliament stalling proposed defence spending, saying that the threat posed by China has never been greater.



Taiwan President Lai Ching-te last year ⁠proposed $40 billion in extra defence spending to counter China, which views the island as its own territory.



But the opposition, which has a majority in parliament, has refused to review the proposal and instead advanced its own, less expensive proposals, which only fund the purchase of some of the U.S. weapons Lai wants.



The U.S. letter, addressed to Taiwan parliament speaker Han Kuo-yu, the heads of the opposition parties the Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People's Party, as well as the caucus whip for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, said the United States and Taiwan ‌shared a strong and enduring partnership.



"However, the threat posed by the People's Republic of China against Taiwan has never been greater.



The U.S. must address the massive backlog in weapons deliveries to Taiwan, but Taiwan needs to step up too, the letter said.