TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Increasing Taiwan’s defense budget has bipartisan support, Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) said Saturday.

In talks with US Senators Roger Wicker and Deb Fischer, Han said both the Democratic Progressive Party and Kuomintang aim to raise the defense budget above 3% of GDP next year, with a long-term target of 5%, per CNA. While Taiwan’s political parties may disagree on other issues, a consensus has been reached on defense and diplomacy, he added.

Han said Taiwan is at a critical juncture and must understand the mindset of the Chinese Communist Party to respond to challenges. He emphasized the importance of parliamentary diplomacy as regional tensions increase.

He also thanked Wicker and Fischer for their support and friendship, saying Taiwan will be safer the more international backing it receives.

The two senators arrived Friday and met with President Lai Ching-te (賴清德), Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄), and other officials.