U.S. Senators Back Taiwan's $40B Defense Budget

0:00It's March 30th. This is Canada News today, your AI-powered local news. A group of four U.S. Senators just wrapped up talks in Taiwan during their full support behind a stalled $40 billion dollar special defense budget. These bipartisan lawmakers met with President Lai Ching Te to push for its quick passage in the opposition-led parliament. The visit comes as part of a broader Asia trip to strengthen U.S. alliances against China's growing influence right before it may summit between President Trump and China's Xi Jinping. The Senators praised Taiwan's recent strides in defense and energy security. China wasted no time slamming the trip with their foreign ministry calling for the U.S. to cut all official exchanges and warning against signals to. Independence forces Beijing sees Taiwan as its territory and refuses direct talks with Lai, labeling him a separatist. Taiwan's budget aims to fund the high-tech missile shield called the T-Dome. We've been artificial intelligence for defense and boost homegrown weapons over the next

1:04eight years. Opposition parties want a smaller package, but Lai insists it's crucial for self-defense. Meanwhile, the opposition leader plans a China trip next month to ease tensions. With U.S. arms sales on the horizon and parliament debates heating up, Taiwan's security push keeps the region on edge.