Taiwan is putting more money and new technology into its own defense, and a visiting US senator promised American backing — reassuring for Taipei, a warning sign for Beijing.

• President Lai Ching-te told visiting US Senator Michael Bennet that peace in the Taiwan Strait matters to the whole first island chain and the wider Indo-Pacific.
• Taiwan's defense budget hits 3.2% of the economy this year and goes to 3.9% next year, with a target of 5% by 2030.
• The money is going into drones, AI, satellites and new command systems, aiming for a cheaper, harder-to-kill defense rather than just more hardware.
• Taipei wants a joint drone supply chain with the US that cuts China out entirely.
• Bennet pointed to Taiwan's new multi-billion-dollar special arms budget and said both US parties back selling Taiwan the weapons it needs.

Outlook: Expect more US-Taiwan deals on drones and space technology, and sharper pushback from Beijing around Taiwan's National Day.