Taipei: The top U.S. representative to Taiwan on Monday urged lawmakers to approve a "comprehensive" defense budget, as the Legislature prepared to resume cross-party negotiations on a Cabinet-proposed NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.77 billion) special spending bill. In an interview with the China Times, Raymond Greene, head of the American Institute in Taiwan, emphasized the importance of passing a comprehensive budget package, seeing it as a critical signal to the international community and essential for ensuring Taiwan acquires the full range of defense capabilities it has requested.
According to Focus Taiwan, the remarks were made as Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu prepared to convene a meeting of party caucus leaders to negotiate key provisions in the bill, including procurement priorities and the overall funding cap, after earlier talks failed to reach a consensus. Lawmakers remain divided over the scale of the proposed package, with the Cabinet seeking NT$1.25 trillion over eight years, while opposition parties have proposed lower figures ranging from about NT$380 billion to NT$800 billion.
In a Monday Facebook post summarizing the interview, Greene highlighted previously announced U.S. arms packages to Taiwan, including High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and M109 self-propelled howitzers, as key systems. He noted that Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense is also seeking funding for integrated air and missile defense systems, as well as unmanned vehicles and drones.
Greene stated, "As evidenced on the battlefields of the Middle East and Ukraine, these systems are not only critically important but are also in extremely high demand worldwide." He added that passing the budget swiftly would create a "positive atmosphere" ahead of a planned Washington visit by opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun.
Meanwhile, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus on Monday called on opposition lawmakers from the KMT and Taiwan People's Party (TPP) to approach the negotiations with caution and prioritize national security. DPP caucus chief Chuang Jui-hsiung criticized what he described as inconsistent opposition positions, accusing some lawmakers of advocating lower budget ceilings despite publicly stressing the importance of defense.
The party also urged opposition lawmakers to clarify which categories of defense spending they consider unnecessary, warning that arbitrary cuts could create gaps in Taiwan's defense posture. Despite the divisions, Han has signaled a commitment to building consensus. Meeting a delegation from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank, last week, he said national security is a bipartisan issue and pledged to help advance the bill while ensuring proper oversight of public funds.