US senators are on a two-day visit to Taiwan to press for legislative approval of a proposed special defence budget, amidst growing military pressure from Beijing and looming payment deadlines for US-approved arms packages.

Four senior US senators are on a two-day visit to Taiwan to press for legislative approval of a NT$1.25 trillion (US$40 billion) special defence budget proposed by the island’s government but stalled by the opposition as military pressure from Beijing intensifies. The visit – seen as signalling growing frustration in Washington over the delays – comes as Taipei faces looming payment deadlines for several US-approved arms packages, with funding still unresolved due to the legislative...