TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The US House of Representatives has passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which provides additional funding for military support to Taiwan’s government.
The narrowly passed bill, which would provide sweeping tax cuts and raise border and military spending, while cutting Medicaid, has been criticized for its projected impact on the national deficit, per CNA. The bill has been sent to the Senate for review, where revisions are expected.
The US Senate Armed Services Committee said the bill’s defense budget provisions would allocate US$12 billion (NT$360 billion) under the Pacific Deterrence Initiative. The bill provides additional funding for “various military exercises and infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific region; classified military space-superiority programs; and military support to the government of Taiwan.”
US Senator Roger Wicker said the content focuses on strengthening shipbuilding, missile defense and space sensing, and US military deployment. He said military efforts in the Indo-Pacific region are part of a broad strategy to prevent conflict.
Wicker commented that exhibiting military strength would make China more afraid to break the status quo. The US defense budget is projected to increase by over US$150 billion over the next decade.
