A bipartisan coalition of senior U.S. lawmakers has expressed urgency for Taiwan to significantly increase its defense budget in light of escalating military drills by China, which resemble invasion preparations. This call for enhanced military readiness comes from lawmakers including Senators Pete Ricketts and Chris Coons and Representatives Young Kim and Ami Bera, who have voiced concerns about potential gridlock in the Taiwanese government that could undermine the island's deterrence capabilities against Chinese aggression.

In a letter directed at Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan, the group highlighted their