U.S. Lawmakers Push Taiwan on Defense Budget

0:00It's March 30th. Welcome to U.S. News Today, powered by AI. I'm Cory with the story. U.S. lawmakers just landed in Taipei to push Taiwan's parliament hard on approving a stalled $40 billion defense budget. They warned that any more delays could leave the island vulnerable to China's growing military threats, even with America's steady arms and security. Backing, Taiwan's President Leiching Tay proposed this extra spending boost, but it stuck in the opposition led legislature right now. The U.S. remains Taiwan's top ally and weapons provider. No formal ties needed, while Beijing keeps insisting the island belongs to them. The delegation, led by Republican Senator John Curtis, met with LI and stressed unity. Curtis made it clear back in Washington, everyone's watching, and they all need to invest together to counter the pressure. Democrat Senator Jean Shaheen highlighted worries over Beijing's risky military moves around the strait. China's foreign ministry spokesperson fired back, urging the U.S. to stick to the one

1:04China principle and cut official Taiwan contacts to protect. Relations and stability. With recent war games after an $11 billion U.S. arms deal and another $14 billion package in the works, this budget fight underscores. How tense things stay, pulling everyone deeper into shared defense commitments across the Pacific.