US lawmakers express support for stalled Taiwan special defense budget

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — The United States supports efforts by Taiwan’s government to pass a $40 billion special defense budget that is being stalled in the opposition-controlled parliament, a group of visiting U.S. lawmakers said Monday in Taipei. A bipartisan group of four senators arrived in Taiwan as part of an Asia trip meant to bolster U.S. alliances and counter China’s influence in the region, ahead of a summit planned in May between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.