U.S. Senators John Curtis and Jeanne Shaheen led a bipartisan Congressional delegation to Taiwan on Mar. 31, urging Taiwanese leaders to adopt a special defense budget amid rising tensions with China. The senators emphasized the importance of Congress in the U.S.-Taiwan relationship and affirmed American support during meetings with top government officials.
The visit comes as concerns grow over China’s intentions toward Taiwan, which plays a key role in the global economy due to its semiconductor industry. Senator Curtis said, “China is actively preparing a move of aggression to force unification with Taiwan, a sovereign democracy. Because of Taiwan’s location and pivotal role in the global economy through its innovative high-end semiconductors, an attempted attack on Taiwan could trigger a $10 trillion global economic shock, immediately contracting the U.S. GDP by roughly 10 percent. That catastrophe would hit American factories, businesses, and households harder than the Great Depression, and a successful invasion of Taiwan would fundamentally change our world and put global freedom and democracy at risk for current and future generations.” Curtis added that “The U.S. fully supports President Lai’s Special Defense Budget request and encourages its adoption by the Legislative Yuen. The $40 billion proposal is a direct assessment of the capability gaps that Taiwan needs to deter and, if necessary, defeat China. Taiwan must urgently adapt its defense strategy by focusing on asymmetric warfare and technological innovation.”
During their two-day visit, Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) joined Curtis and Shaheen in meetings with President Lai Ching-te, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-Lung, National Security Council Secretary General Joseph Wu, Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu as well as other lawmakers from various parties. The group also toured facilities focused on strengthening domestic asymmetric defense production.
Background information provided highlights that since coming to power in 1948, China’s government has pursued unification with Taiwan—a policy reaffirmed by Chinese President Xi Jinping at a 2022 Communist Party gathering where he said China would not renounce using force against what it considers “separatists.” Xi has instructed his military to be ready for possible action against Taiwan by 2027; meanwhile China regularly conducts military demonstrations near Taiwanese territory.
In response to these threats, Taiwanese authorities have proposed increasing their defense spending—including an eight-year special budget totaling about $40 billion—to focus on strategies intended to make rapid conquest difficult for any adversary.
Mao Ning from China’s Foreign Ministry formally denounced the senators’ visit on Mar. 31 stating that Washington should stop all contact with Taipei because it sends “wrong signals” supporting independence movements.
Curtis serves Utah in the Senate after two terms as mayor of Provo according to his official website. He is recognized among effective Republican members of Congress according to his official website, has founded the Conservative Climate Caucus according to his official website, advocates for conservative environmental solutions while supporting small businesses according to his official website, addresses issues like public land management through legislation according to his official website, raises six children along with seventeen grandchildren according to his official website, speaks Mandarin Chinese—and previously served as missionary in Taiwan.
