Two U-S senators and the State Department have welcomed Taiwan's Legislative
Yuan approval of a 780-billion NT supplementary defense budget, calling it a
signal of resolve at a critical moment for Indo-Pacific stability.

Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Republican Senator John Curtis said in
a joint statement that the vote shows Taiwan is taking seriously the need to
strengthen its defenses against growing Chinese military pressure.

The senators also called for additional steps to boost Taiwan's asymmetric
capabilities and domestic defense production.

The State Department said the U-S supports Taiwan's acquisition of defense
capabilities commensurate with the threat it faces, but warned that further
delays in funding the remaining proposed capabilities amount to "a concession
to the Chinese Communist Party."

The budget passed 59 to zero, with 48 abstentions, falling short of the
ruling D-P-P's original 1-point-25-trillion NT request.

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense separately warned that the scaled-back
budget excludes commercial purchases and commissioned development projects,
undermining long-term defense planning.

(CNA-PB)