The most recent version of the US’ National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025 includes increased support for Taiwan, US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson said yesterday.
Johnson made the remarks at a news conference on Capitol Hill.
The NDAA, published on Saturday, would allow the US departments of defense and state to augment Taiwan’s military capabilities, such as anti-armor, radars, crewed and uncrewed aerial vehicles, cyberdefense, long-range precision weapons, integrated air and missile defense systems, anti-ship missiles, electronic warfare and counter-electronic warfare capabilities, secure communications equipment and other electronic protection systems.
Photo: CNA
The act authorizes a Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative, modeled after the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, to enable Taiwan to maintain sufficient self-defense capabilities consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act. And the lawmakers have proposed military articles and training worth up to US$300 million to support Taiwan in the Act.
In concurrence with the US secretary of state, the secretary of defense may provide Taiwan’s military, government and other agencies with defense articles from the US inventory and services to help the nation maintain sufficient self-defense capabilities, according to the NDAA.
The US is to establish a joint program with Taiwan on general trauma care, amputation and amputee care, and any other mental health condition associated with post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injuries, it says.
According to Section 1324 of the act, the US Congress can invite Taiwan’s naval forces to participate in next year’s Rim of the Pacific exercise.
According to Section 5121, also known as Building Options for the Lasting Security of Taiwan through European Resolve (BOLSTER) Act, collaborations with the EU and the UK should be pursued on sanctions against the People’s Republic of China (PRC) if it overthrows or dismantles the governing institutions in Taiwan, or occupies any territory controlled or administered by Taiwan.
Imposing a naval blockade or quarantining Taiwan, seizing its outlying islands or initiating a cyberattack that threatens civilian or military infrastructure in the nation are grounds to issue sanctions, according to the BOLSTER Act.
The US president should tender a report to the Senate’s Committee on Foreign Relations and the House of Representatives’ Committee on Foreign Affairs on the expected economic impacts of a Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) 30-day or 180-day blockade or quarantine of Taiwan, according to the NDAA.
The US and European countries should publicly and repeatedly emphasize the differences between their respective “one China” policies and the PRC’s “one China” principle to counter the PRC’s claims that UN Resolution 2758 recognizes the PRC territorial claims to Taiwan, it says.
European countries, particularly those with experience combatting Russian aggression, can provide Taiwan with lessons learned from their defense programs to mobilize the military and civilians in a time of crisis, it says.
DEFENSE: The first set of three NASAMS that were previously purchased is expected to be delivered by the end of this year and deployed near the capital, sources said Taiwan plans to procure 28 more sets of M-142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), as well as nine additional sets of National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), military sources said yesterday. Taiwan had previously purchased 29 HIMARS launchers from the US and received the first 11 last year. Once the planned purchases are completed and delivered, Taiwan would have 57 sets of HIMARS. The army has also increased the number of MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) purchased from 64 to 84, the sources added. Each HIMARS launch pod can carry six Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems, capable of
TRAJECTORY: The severe tropical storm is predicted to be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday and Thursday, and would influence the nation to varying degrees, a forecaster said The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday said it would likely issue a sea warning for Tropical Storm Podul tomorrow morning and a land warning that evening at the earliest. CWA forecaster Lin Ting-yi (林定宜) said the severe tropical storm is predicted to be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday and Thursday. As of 2pm yesterday, the storm was moving west at 21kph and packing sustained winds of 108kph and gusts of up to 136.8kph, the CWA said. Lin said that the tropical storm was about 1,710km east of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost tip, with two possible trajectories over the next one
Tropical Storm Podul strengthened into a typhoon at 8pm yesterday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said, with a sea warning to be issued late last night or early this morning. As of 8pm, the typhoon was 1,020km east of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost tip, moving west at 23kph. The storm carried maximum sustained winds of 119kph and gusts reaching 155kph, the CWA said. Based on the tropical storm’s trajectory, a land warning could be issued any time from midday today, it added. CWA forecaster Chang Chun-yao (張竣堯) said Podul is a fast-moving storm that is forecast to bring its heaviest rainfall and strongest
CRITICISM: It is deeply regrettable that China, which is pursuing nuclear weapons, has suppressed Taiwan, which is pursuing peace, a government official said Representative to Japan Lee Yi-yang (李逸洋) yesterday accused Beijing of interference after Taiwan’s official delegation to the Nagasaki Peace Memorial Ceremony in Japan was assigned seating in the “international non-governmental organizations [NGO]” area. “Taiwan is by no means an international NGO, but a sovereign nation that is active on the international stage,” Lee said. Lee and Chen Ming-chun (陳銘俊), head of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Fukuoka, attended the ceremony in Nagasaki yesterday, which marked the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of the city. That followed Lee’s attendance at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony on Wednesday
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