US senator urges Taiwan parliament to pass stalled defence spending plan

## Summary
Advertisement East Asia US senator urges Taiwan parliament to pass stalled defence spending plan US Senator Jim Banks walks through the Senate Subway in the US Capitol Building during a procedural vote on Mar 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images via AFP) 09 Apr 2026 10:26AM Bookmark Bookmark Share WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Set CNA as your preferred source on Google Add CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results. Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST FAST TAIPEI: Taiwan's parliament should pass a stalled special defence budget to send a signal to China and the world that it is serious about peace through strength, US Senator Jim Banks said during a meeting with President Lai Ching-te in Taipei. According to a video of the meeting provided by Lai's office, Banks, a Republican who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, told him on Wednesday (Apr 8) that the Taiwanese president was providing leadership in expanding defence spending similar to that of US President Donald Trump, who has proposed US$1.5 trillion in defence spending. CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less "But your Legislative Yuan has to do its part and pass the special budget, and that's one message that I want to send to your leadership," he added, using the formal name for Taiwan's parliament. "When you pass the special budget in the legislature, that is a signal to China, and to the rest of the world, that Taiwan is serious about peace through strength," Banks said. "I appreciate President Lai's leadership in making that happen." A separate group of US lawmakers gave a similar message during a visit to Taipei last week.

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US senator urges Taiwan parliament to pass stalled defence spending plan
US Senator Jim Banks walks through the Senate Subway in the US Capitol Building during a procedural vote on Mar 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images via AFP)
09 Apr 2026 10:26AM
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TAIPEI: Taiwan's parliament should pass a stalled special defence budget to send a signal to China and the world that it is serious about peace through strength, US Senator Jim Banks said during a meeting with President Lai Ching-te in Taipei.
Lai last year
proposed US$40 billion
in extra defence spending to counter China, which views the island as its own territory.
Parliament, where the opposition has a majority, is continuing to debate the government's plan and competing, less expensive proposals.
According to a video of the meeting provided by Lai's office, Banks, a Republican who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, told him on Wednesday (Apr 8) that the Taiwanese president was providing leadership in
expanding defence spending
similar to that of US President Donald Trump, who has proposed US$1.5 trillion in defence spending.
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"But your Legislative Yuan has to do its part and pass the special budget, and that's one message that I want to send to your leadership," he added, using the formal name for Taiwan's parliament.
"When you pass the special budget in the legislature, that is a signal to China, and to the rest of the world, that Taiwan is serious about peace through strength," Banks said. "I appreciate President Lai's leadership in making that happen."
A separate group of US lawmakers gave a similar message during a visit to Taipei last week.
Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of Taiwan's largest opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), is
currently on a visit to China
where she could meet President Xi Jinping.
The KMT says it supports defence spending but
will not sign "bank cheques"
and that dialogue with Beijing is equally important.
China refuses to speak to Lai, saying he is a "separatist". He rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying only Taiwan's people can decide their future.
Banks was one of a group of 37 bipartisan US lawmakers who in February wrote to senior Taiwanese politicians expressing concern about parliament stalling defence spending plans.
Related:
Taiwan says US has 'high' urgency in speeding up weapons deliveries
Taiwan parliament authorises signing of stalled US$9 billion US arms deals
Source: Reuters/ec
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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
- The KMT says it supports defence spending but will not sign "bank cheques" and that dialogue with Beijing is equally important.

### Areas for Consideration
- CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less "But your Legislative Yuan has to do its part and pass the special budget, and that's one message that I want to send to your leadership," he added, using the formal name for Taiwan's parliament. "When you pass the special budget in the legislature, that is a signal to China, and to the rest of the world, that Taiwan is serious about peace through strength," Banks said. "I appreciate President Lai's leadership in making that happen." A separate group of US lawmakers gave a similar message during a visit to Taipei last week.
- Banks was one of a group of 37 bipartisan US lawmakers who in February wrote to senior Taiwanese politicians expressing concern about parliament stalling defence spending plans.

### Implications
- Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST FAST TAIPEI: Taiwan's parliament should pass a stalled special defence budget to send a signal to China and the world that it is serious about peace through strength, US Senator Jim Banks said during a meeting with President Lai Ching-te in Taipei.
- Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of Taiwan's largest opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), is currently on a visit to China where she could meet President Xi Jinping.
- The KMT says it supports defence spending but will not sign "bank cheques" and that dialogue with Beijing is equally important.
- He rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying only Taiwan's people can decide their future.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers taiwan, defence, fast topics. Notable strengths include discussion of taiwan. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 659.