00:00Taiwanese lawmakers have been urged to quickly approve a special defense budget amid growing security concerns.
00:07Raymond Green, Washington's de facto ambassador in Taipei and head of the American Institute,
00:12says passing it is vital to ensure Taiwan acquires the full range of defense capabilities it has requested
00:20and to send a critical signal to the international community.
00:24Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has proposed a $40 billion defense package
00:30covering both U.S.-made weapons and domestic capabilities such as drones.
00:35The plan is aimed at strengthening deterrence against China,
00:39which has been intensifying political and military pressure on the island.
00:44However, the proposal has stalled in the opposition majority parliament,
00:48with the Kuomintang saying it needs more details before approving the spending.
00:52Taipei has warned that delays could cause Taiwan its place in the queue for American weapons,
00:58which Green says are in high demand.
01:01The United States remains Taiwan's main arms supplier
01:04and recently announced an $11 billion defense package for the island.
01:09China, meanwhile, has repeatedly called on Washington to halt weapon sales to Taiwan.
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