Legislature Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) and Vice Speaker Chiang Chi Chen (江啟臣) issued a joint statement on Monday, February 16, in response to a letter from bipartisan U.S. lawmakers expressing concerns about Taiwan’s special defense budget. They emphasized their commitment to actively assisting all party caucuses in carefully reviewing related bills, with the special defense budget being the highest priority.

Ocean Affairs Minister Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) stated in a Facebook post that the legislature's reply not only used the phrase "Taiwan's security and Indo-Pacific peace and stability" but also pledged to contribute to this cause. She said that this helps dispel allegations of the KMT "insulting the US and being pro-China," and it's time to correct the absurd accusations that they are "pushing away strategic partners and embracing hostile forces" made over the past year.

Kuan emphasized that once the special defense budget and the reciprocal tariff agreement are solidified, the security and economic partnership between the U.S. and Taiwan will deepen. Combined with Japan's new cabinet, which is unafraid of the China threat, a peaceful chain to deter China from using force against Taiwan can be forged, she said. She underscored that the closer the strategic partnership among Indo-Pacific allies, the more secure the region’s peace, stability, and prosperity will be.