Curtis, speaking alongside fellow lawmakers including Jeanne Shaheen, said Taiwan should draw lessons from Hong Kong, where Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law in 2020 following unrest, a move critics say curtailed freedoms.

The visit comes as President Lai Ching-te seeks approval for an additional $40 billion in defence spending, a proposal backed by Washington but currently stalled in the opposition-controlled parliament.

Taiwan’s government says the funding is necessary to strengthen deterrence against China, which claims the island as its territory. Opposition parties have expressed support in principle for defence measures but have resisted approving what they describe as open-ended commitments.

Curtis said Taiwan risked misjudging Beijing’s intentions if it ignored the trajectory of Hong Kong since its return to Chinese rule in 1997 under a framework guaranteeing autonomy.“My biggest worry for Taiwan is that they underestimate the intentions of China,” Curtis said, urging vigilance despite aspirations for peace.

China has simultaneously stepped up engagement with Taiwan’s opposition. Beijing has invited Cheng Li-wun, leader of the Kuomintang, to visit, a trip she has described as a “peace mission.”

Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council said China’s objective of annexation had not changed and cautioned against what it called “illusions” about peace, reflecting ongoing tensions across the Taiwan Strait.

Taiwan Defence Minister Wellington Koo told parliament that Washington had established a dedicated project team to accelerate stalled programmes and bring deliveries back on schedule.

He said several systems had already begun arriving, while delayed components were being prioritised.A key delay has involved a 2019 order for 66 F-16V fighter jets built by Lockheed Martin, equipped with upgraded avionics and radar to counter advanced aircraft such as China’s Chengdu J-20.

Taiwan’s defence ministry said at the weekend that deliveries of the F-16V jets would begin this year, with production running at full capacity.Washington prioritises TaipeiThe United States has increased its focus on Taiwan within its defence export system.

Michael Miller, director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, said last week he had signed a directive in 2023 placing Taiwan at the top of the priority list for arms transfers.

Koo said Washington’s urgency reflects a shared goal of rapidly enhancing Taiwan’s self-defence capabilities, amid what Taipei views as an escalating military threat from Beijing.

The United States is legally bound to provide Taiwan with defensive means under longstanding legislation, though it maintains no formal diplomatic ties with the island. Arms sales remain a consistent point of friction with China, which claims Taiwan as its territory and has repeatedly demanded that such transfers cease.

Taiwan has in recent years voiced concern over repeated delays in U.S. weapons deliveries, even as it relies on Washington as its principal security partner and supplier of advanced military systems.

Taiwan has repeatedly flagged delays in U.S. arms shipments, as it faces mounting military pressure from China, which claims the island as its territory. The United States remains Taiwan’s primary security partner and arms supplier despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties.

The United States approved an $8 billion sale in 2019 involving Lockheed Martin, aimed at expanding Taiwan’s fleet to more than 200 F-16 aircraft. The programme has encountered setbacks, including software-related issues that slowed delivery timelines.

Deputy Defence Minister Hsu Szu-chien, accompanied by Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff Tien Chung-yi, visited the F-16V assembly line in South Carolina earlier this week to inspect the first completed aircraft, the ministry said.

Lockheed Martin has assigned several hundred personnel to the programme, and production is proceeding at full capacity on a two-shift schedule, with no reported bottlenecks in parts supply or manpower, according to Taiwan’s statement.

The F-16V fighter jets represent a new configuration tailored for Taiwan, requiring ongoing test flights to refine avionics and systems performance. The defence ministry said these tests must be conducted carefully before full delivery proceeds.

Taiwan has already upgraded 141 older F-16A/B aircraft to the F-16V standard and has ordered 66 new jets equipped with enhanced radar, weapons systems and avionics designed to counter advanced aircraft such as J-20 fighter jet deployed by China.

Lockheed Martin said it was working closely with the U.S. government to accelerate deliveries and remained committed to supporting Taiwan’s defence requirements.