The Taiwanese government’s nearly $40 billion defense budget request is in jeopardy as the opposition advances a much smaller proposal through parliament that omits a number of capabilities deemed critical to deterring and defending against a Chinese attack.
The counterproposal — which would slash President Lai Ching-te’s eight-year, special defense budget request by almost 70% — has raised concerns with the Defense Ministry and prompted dismay in Washington, as China ramps up its military activities around the self-ruled island.
“I’m disappointed to see Taiwan’s opposition parties in parliament slash President Lai’s defense budget so dramatically,” U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, wrote Monday on X.