US Indo-Pacific Commander warns Taiwan must pass special defense budget

US Indo-Pacific Commander warns Taiwan must pass special defense budget

2026-04-23

US lawmakers have in recent weeks repeatedly urged Taiwan to pass its NT$1.25 trillion special defense budget bill, the majority of which is allocated for US arms purchases. On April 21, the US Indo-Pacific Commander Samuel Paparo told senators during a committee hearing that Taiwan must show the resolve to defend itself, including with commitment to defense spending. He also stressed the importance of a US victory over Iran in the ongoing war to effectively deter a Chinese military attack on Taiwan.

As Taiwan’s special defense budget bill remains stalled at the legislature, the US Indo-Pacific Commander Samuel Paparo has warned Taiwan that it must show the resolve to defend itself, including with commitment to defense spending.

Samuel Paparo (April 21)
US Indo-Pacific Commander
We can’t want Taiwan’s defense more than they want it itself, and it’s not a chicken and the egg, because you’re not going to get chicken or eggs if you starve the chicken, so it’s very important for them to fund their own defense.

When asked whether a recent visit to China by KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun could affect Taiwan’s defense spending, Paparo answered that Taiwan’s decisions would speak for itself.

Samuel Paparo (April 21)
US Indo-Pacific Commander
I think the proof will be in the pudding. The passage of this special defense budget will tell us how committed they are. Taiwan’s polling is orders of magnitude above that, leading me to positively assert their willingness to defend themselves.

He added that a US victory over Iran would be effective in deterring China from launching a military attack on Taiwan. He also expressed confidence in the US outmatching China.

Samuel Paparo (April 21)
US Indo-Pacific Commander
And all things being equal, the mass deployment and employment of cheap, expendable munitions will favor defensive so long as we pursue it fully, with mass, with numbers, with sustainability and with AI tools that enable us to command it and outmatch our potential adversaries.

Paparo emphasized that Taiwan remains a sensitive flashpoint between the US and China, and that the US Indo-Pacific Command will continue to support Taiwan in a way that’s outlined in the Taiwan Relations Act.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#taiwan #china #us #defense #indopacific

贏伊朗能嚇阻中犯台美軍印太司令關切台灣國防預算卡關

2026-04-23

台灣國防特別預算卡關，引發美國多位議員關切。美軍印太司令帕帕羅前天在參議院軍事委員會的聽證會上表示，台灣必須重視自身國防，並提供充足經費。他還強調，美國在對伊朗戰事中取得勝利，展現反制的能力與決心，將能有效嚇阻中國軍事侵略台灣。

台灣國防特別預算在立法院卡關，美軍印太司令帕帕羅在國會聽證會上，強調台灣必須為自身國防提供充足經費。

[[美國印太司令帕帕羅]]
“美國不能比台灣更重視他們的國防，這不是先有雞還是先有蛋的問題，如果你讓雞挨餓，你就得不到雞，也得不到蛋，所以對台灣來說，支持自身國家防衛資金是最重要的”

日前國民黨主席鄭麗文赴北京會見中國國家主席習近平，外界擔心此舉恐影響國防支出走向。對此，帕帕羅並不擔心。

[[美國印太司令帕帕羅]]
“我認為事實勝於雄辯，特別國防預算的通過情況，將讓我們知道他們的決心有多大，台灣(對預算)的民調結果遠高於水準，讓我更明確地肯定他們保衛自己的意願”

帕帕羅也認為，美國如果能在對伊朗的戰爭中獲得勝利，將有助於嚇阻中國對台灣發動軍事侵略。即便北京發展無人機攻擊的不對稱作戰能力，美國也有能力反制，並持續向台灣提供資源。

[[美國印太司令帕帕羅]]
“在其他條件相同的情況下，廉價、可消耗彈藥的大規模部署和使用，將有利於防禦方，只要我們向規模化、數量優勢，與可持續性全面推進，並結合有效指揮運用的AI工具，從而超越潛在的對手”

帕帕羅強調，台灣仍是美中之間的敏感熱點，印太司令部將依循台灣關係法持續提供台灣安全援助。

更多新聞內容，請鎖定：
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民視新聞台（53頻道）週二至週六凌晨1:00

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