U.S. Lawmakers Back Taiwan's Defense Boost

0:00It's April 9th. Global news today starts now, AI-powered and worldwide. I'm Cory with the story. Taiwan's president, Lai Qingte, proposed $40 billion in extra defense spending last year to stand strong against China, which claims the island as its own. But parliament, controlled by the opposition, is still hashing out the plan alongside cheaper alternatives. Earlier this week, U.S., Senator Jim Banks, a Republican on the Armed Services Committee, met with Lai and gave props for his bold move, comparing it to Donald Trump's push, for $1.5 trillion in U.S. defense cash. He straight up told Lai that Taiwan's parliament needs to step up and approve that special budget. A different crew of U.S. lawmakers dropped the same nudge during a visit to Taipei last week, stressing the need for more military muscle. Meanwhile, the opposition Quomintang's chairwoman, Chang Lee-wan, is in China right now, possibly meeting President Xi Jinping. Her party backs beefing up defense but insist on no-blank checks and keeping dialogue

1:03open with Beijing. China won't talk to Lai Yi, labeling him a separatist, while he maintains only Taiwan's people get to call the shots on their future. With parliament still debating, the pressure is mounting on all sides.