McConnell on Taiwan’s Special Budget Request, Defense Investments Across Indo-Pacific

LOUISVILLE, KY
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U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) released the following statement today regarding President Lai’s $40 billion special budget request for defense:
“From historic new investments in Australia to accelerated defense spending timelines in Japan, America’s allies and partners across Asia are demonstrating that they take threats to our shared security seriously. At the epicenter of the PRC’s aggressive ambitions, President Lai’s request for an historic special budget investment to bolster Taiwan’s defenses with cutting-edge American-made capabilities is welcome news.
“As Western-aligned nations around the world take the increasingly aligned threats posed by China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea more seriously, we must not shirk our own responsibilities. From Taiwan and the Philippines to Israel and Ukraine, standing with friends and partners in the crosshairs of authoritarian aggression remains in America’s national interests. Today, more than ever, we must practice what we preach and make sustained annual investments in our own military to meet growing global threats.”
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