US lawmakers urge Taiwan to pass stalled $40 billion defence budget

U.S. lawmakers visiting Taipei on Monday urged approval of President Lai Ching-te's stalled $40 billion defence budget, warning further delays risk undermining the island's ability to deter Chinese military pressure even as Washington accelerates arms sales and security support.



The U.S. is democratically governed Taiwan's most important international backer and arms supplier, despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties. China claims Taiwan as its own territory over the island's rejection. Lai's proposed $40 billion in extra defence spending is currently stalled in the opposition-controlled parliament.



U.S. Republican Senator John Curtis, who arrived in Taipei on Monday with a delegation of three other lawmakers on a visit, has long been a strong friend of Taiwan. The visit comes at a time when Beijing has ramped up military and political pressure to force the democratic island to accept its sovereignty.



"We're here to enforce that message and demonstrate to the people here in Taiwan that we are together a very important part of the safety and the unity around this world," Curtis told reporters in the presidential office in Taipei after meeting Lai.



Taiwan's opposition-dominated parliament is continuing to debate Lai's defence spending proposal, though it has already authorised the government to sign U.S. agreements for four arms sales packages worth some $9 billion before the budget is passed.