Curtis, Shaheen Lead Bipartisan Delegation to Taiwan

Senators urged leaders to adopt special defense budget, affirmed U.S. support for Taiwan amid growing China threat
TAIPEI—U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), SFRC Ranking Member, led a bipartisan Congressional delegation to Taiwan to emphasize Congress’ leading role in the U.S.-Taiwan relationship and affirm American support. While meeting with top government officials, the senators urged the passage of the Special Defense Budget proposed by Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te amid increasing threats of aggression from China.
Joining Curtis and Shaheen in the delegation were Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV). Photos from the visit can be downloadedhere.
“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,”said Senator Curtis.
“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,”Curtis continued.
Over two days, the delegation met with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, Vice President Hsiao, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-Lung, National Security Council Secretary General Joseph Wu, and President of the Legislative Yuan (LY) Han Kuo-yu and a cross-partisan group of LY members. The delegation also toured the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology to review Taiwan’s efforts to enhance asymmetric defense production domestically.
Background:
Since the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) came to power in 1948, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) government has pursued unification with Taiwan. At a 2022 CCP gathering, President Xi Jinping recommitted to that policy, saying “… [W]e will never promise to renounce the use of force, and we reserve the option of taking all measures necessary.” Xi has instructed his military to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027. To this end, the PRC regularly engages in both naval-based military demonstrations surrounding Taiwan and “gray zone” noncombat operations to erode Taiwan’s military advantages and readiness.
In an effort to both deter Chinese aggression and make necessary defensive capability improvements, Taiwan has taken steps toward adopting an “asymmetric” defense strategy, the goal of which is to make Taiwan impossible for the PRC to quickly subdue. President Lai has said he aims for Taiwan to spend 5% of GDP on defense. In November 2025, the Lai Administration proposed a “special budget” of around $40 billion to be allocated over eight years to supplement Taiwan’s regular defense budget. The LY is currently considering the proposal as well as counterproposals from the opposition political parties.
In a statement issued on March 31, 2026, Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, formally denounced the Senators’ delegation to Taiwan, saying in part that the United States should cease all contact with Taiwan and “stop sending any wrong signals to ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces.” Though the PRC has never ruled any part of Taiwan, it still claims that the Taiwanese government are “separatists” and that Taiwan is a “breakaway province” of China.
The Taiwan visit was part of a broader Congressional delegation to Indo-Pacific allies, including stops in Tokyo and Seoul for engagements with their governments, U.S. embassies, and the U.S. military.
Curtis speaks Mandarin Chinese and served a two-year mission in Taiwan for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.