US President Joe Biden on Friday signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024, which requires the US secretary of defense to create a training program for Taiwan’s military, and requires a status report on the delivery of defensive weapons and services that the US has agreed to sell to Taipei.
Provisions in the NDAA related to Taiwan include measures to help boost its defense capabilities, counter Chinese influence campaigns and support Taiwan’s participation in international organizations.
One of those provisions requires the defense secretary, in consultation with “appropriate officials in Taiwan,” to establish a comprehensive training, advising and institutional capacity-building program for Taiwanese military forces, consistent with the US’ Taiwan Enhanced Resilience Act.
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The NDAA also directs the US secretaries of defense and state to describe actions taken to carry out the program in their annual report to the US Congress.
Other sections in the NDAA require US officials to closely monitor deliveries of defense articles to US allies, including Taiwan, and to prevent delays.
The bill forbids committing more than 85 percent of the funds available to the assistant secretary of the navy for research, development and acquisition until a plan is submitted to provide Harpoon missiles to security partners.
It also requires a briefing on the status of US-provided security assistance to Taiwan before the remaining funds can be released.
Taiwan has committed to purchasing 400 land-launched Harpoon missiles from the US. It hopes to start taking delivery of them in 2026 and to have received all 400 by the end of 2028.
The NDAA requires that the secretaries of defense and state brief congressional committees on the status of US-provided security assistance to Taiwan no later than 180 days after the date of the law’s enactment.
Those reports must include a list of defense articles and services either committed to or planned to be provided to Taiwan, and the estimated delivery schedule for each of them.
Crucially, the NDAA stipulates that the briefing must also identify any defense article or service whose delivery has been delayed by more than three months and the actions taken to prevent delays or accelerate the delivery of such items.
The NDAA also directs the defense secretary to work with Taiwanese officials on cybersecurity activities aimed at defending military networks, infrastructure and systems to counter “malicious cyber activity” aimed at military installations.
It also calls for officials to provide an assessment of the economic impact a potential Chinese invasion would have and response scenarios, along with viable economic policy options that would “cause escalating impacts” on China’s economy “during the pre-conflict phase.”
Officials are also required to provide regular assessments of Chinese efforts to convince Pacific island nations that diplomatically recognize Taiwan to change their allegiance to Beijing.
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