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US envoy urges Taiwan lawmakers to 'quickly' pass defence bill Taipei, March 26 (AFP) Mar 26, 2026 The United States expects Taiwan to boost defence expenditure to five percent of GDP, Washington's envoy to Taipei said Thursday, calling on the island's lawmakers to "quickly" approve a spending bill. After months of delays and intense US pressure, Taiwan's opposition-controlled parliament began reviewing this week rival proposals for special defence spending that are aimed at strengthening the island's military against a potential Chinese attack. China claims Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring it under its control. Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, who has previously vowed to reach the five percent target by 2030, last year proposed NT$1.25 trillion ($39 billion) in spending on critical defence purchases, including US arms. But the plan has been criticised by opposition lawmakers. The main opposition Kuomintang party wants to allocate NT$380 billion for US weapons with the option for more acquisitions. "President Trump has pressed allies and partners to increase defence spending to five percent of GDP to share with us the financial burden of maintaining peace," said Raymond Greene, director of the American Institute in Taiwan, America's de facto embassy. "Taiwan is no exception to this expectation," Greene told an American Chamber of Commerce event. "We encourage all the parties in Taiwan's legislature to work through political differences and quickly pass a special defence budget that demonstrates Taiwan's commitment to its self defence by funding the acquisition of critical defence capabilities." While the United States does not have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, Washington remains Taipei's most important security backer. Greene said US commitments under the Taiwan Relations Act, which was passed by the US Congress in 1979 and requires the United States to provide weapons to Taiwan, remained "rock solid". |
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