United States Urges Taiwan to Approve Additional Defense Budget

Apr 27, 2026, 09:14
ChinaPolitics

Introduction

The United States has called on Taiwan's legislature to approve a comprehensive supplemental defense budget. This funding is intended to strengthen the island's military capabilities and improve its ability to discourage potential attacks.

Main Body

The current political disagreement focuses on President Lai Ching-te's proposal for US$40 billion in extra defense spending. This money would be used to buy American military equipment and develop local technology, such as drones. The administration asserts that these steps are necessary to respond to China's claims of sovereignty over the island. Raymond Greene, head of the American Institute in Taiwan, emphasized that a full budget package is essential for purchasing air and missile defense systems. He noted that because of conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, global demand for these systems is very high. Therefore, he argued that Taiwan must act quickly to avoid delays in production and delivery. This follows a previous US arms package in December valued at US$11 billion. However, the Kuomintang (KMT), the opposition party with a majority in parliament, is currently blocking progress. While the KMT generally supports defense spending, they have requested more specific details before approving the funds, claiming they cannot provide unconditional financial support. Meanwhile, Defense Minister Wellington Koo criticized the delay, linking the urgency to recent Chinese naval activity near the Penghu islands. In contrast, KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun argued for a balanced approach, suggesting that Taiwan should maintain relations with both the US and China.

Conclusion

The Taiwanese government and the United States are now waiting for the results of further legislative negotiations on May 6 to resolve the funding gap for military equipment.

Vocabulary Learning

balanced (adj.)
even / having a good proportion; not extreme平衡的
Example:She adopted a balanced approach to the negotiations.
comprehensive (adj.)
complete / covering all aspects; inclusive全面
Example:The report provided a comprehensive overview of the situation.
conflict (n.)
disagreement / a serious disagreement or argument衝突
Example:The conflict between the two countries lasted for several years.
essential (adj.)
necessary / absolutely required; vital必要的
Example:It is essential that we finish the project on time.
supplemental (adj.)
additional / supplementary; extra補充的
Example:The company offered supplemental training to help employees improve their skills.

Sentence Learning

This funding is intended to strengthen the island's military capabilities and improve its ability to discourage potential attacks.
Passive Voice: The sentence uses passive voice with the structure 'is intended to + infinitive', indicating the action is performed on the subject rather than by an agent.被動語態: 句子使用被動語態結構「is intended to + 不定詞」，表示動作是對主語 'funding' 進行的，而不是由某個主體執行。
In contrast, KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun argued for a balanced approach, suggesting that Taiwan should maintain relations with both the US and China.
Contrastive Conjunction: The phrase 'In contrast' introduces a contrasting idea, linking this sentence to the previous one and highlighting a difference in viewpoint.對比連詞：'In contrast' 用於引出對比的觀點，將此句與前一句連結，凸顯不同的立場。
Therefore, he argued that Taiwan must act quickly to avoid delays in production and delivery.
Causal Conjunction: The word 'Therefore' signals a cause-effect relationship, indicating that the argument follows from earlier information.因果連詞：'Therefore' 表示因果關係，說明此論點是從前述資訊推導而來。
The administration asserts that these steps are necessary to respond to China’s claims of sovereignty over the island.
Subordinate Clause: The clause 'that these steps are necessary...' is a complement clause introduced by 'that', providing the content of what the administration asserts.從屬子句：'that these steps are necessary...' 是一個由 'that' 引導的補語子句，說明行政機關所主張的內容。