Two US senators have introduced legislation to streamline arms sales to Taiwan by adopting similar rules as those used for “NATO Plus” countries.
The providing our regional companions upgraded protections in nefarious environments act, or PORCUPINE Act, was introduced on Tuesday by US senators Pete Ricketts and Chris Coons, according to a statement issued by Ricketts on Tuesday.
The bill would put Taiwan into the NATO Plus category — a group that includes Japan, Australia, South Korea, New Zealand and Israel — for shorter formal congressional notification times and higher weapons value thresholds.
Photo: AFP
Under the US’ Arms Export Control Act (AECA), the US Department of State is required to informally notify the US Congress of a prospective arms sale, thus allowing Congress to raise any questions or concerns.
After the informal process is complete, the AECA requires the US president to formally notify Congress 30 days before approving the sale, enhancement or upgrading of “major defense equipment” valued at US$14 million or more.
The notification requirement also extends to “defense articles and services” valued at US$50 million or more, and “design and construction services” valued at US$200 million or more.
For NATO and NATO Plus states — and Taiwan if the proposed bill passes — the president’s notification period is shortened to 15 days, while the dollar thresholds are raised to US$25 million, US$100 million and US$300 million respectively.
The proposed legislation would also require the US secretary of state to establish an expedited decisionmaking process for transfers of defense articles or services from NATO or NATO Plus countries to Taiwan.
“On my recent [visit] to Taiwan, I saw a partner ready and willing to provide for its own self-defense in the face of increasing aggression by communist China,” Ricketts was quoted as saying in the statement. “However, our antiquated arms sales process and struggling defense industrial base have prevented Taiwan from getting the weapons it needs in a timely manner.”
“The PORCUPINE Act will make it easier for us to send arms to Taiwan, quicker, while also creating a process for our closest allies and partners to do the same,” he said.
Ricketts, Coons and US Senator Ted Budd visited Taiwan from April 16 to 19 to hold talks on regional security, trade and investment with President William Lai (賴清德) and other top government officials.
Taiwanese Olympic badminton men’s doubles gold medalist Wang Chi-lin (王齊麟) and his new partner, Chiu Hsiang-chieh (邱相榤), clinched the men’s doubles title at the Yonex Taipei Open yesterday, becoming the second Taiwanese team to win a title in the tournament. Ranked 19th in the world, the Taiwanese duo defeated Kang Min-hyuk and Ki Dong-ju of South Korea 21-18, 21-15 in a pulsating 43-minute final to clinch their first doubles title after teaming up last year. Wang, the men’s doubles gold medalist at the 2020 and 2024 Olympics, partnered with Chiu in August last year after the retirement of his teammate Lee Yang
US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer began talks with high-ranking Chinese officials in Switzerland yesterday aiming to de-escalate a dispute that threatens to cut off trade between the world’s two biggest economies and damage the global economy. The US delegation has begun meetings in Geneva with a Chinese delegation led by Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng (何立峰), Xinhua News Agency said. Diplomats from both sides also confirmed that the talks have begun, but spoke anonymously and the exact location of the talks was not made public. Prospects for a major breakthrough appear dim, but there is
The number of births in Taiwan fell to an all-time monthly low last month, while the population declined for the 16th consecutive month, Ministry of the Interior data released on Friday showed. The number of newborns totaled 8,684, which is 704 births fewer than in March and the lowest monthly figure on record, the ministry said. That is equivalent to roughly one baby born every five minutes and an annual crude birthrate of 4.52 per 1,000 people, the ministry added. Meanwhile, 17,205 deaths were recorded, resulting in a natural population decrease of 8,521, the data showed. More people are also leaving Taiwan, with net
FALSE DOCUMENTS? Actor William Liao said he was ‘voluntarily cooperating’ with police after a suspect was accused of helping to produce false medical certificates Police yesterday questioned at least six entertainers amid allegations of evasion of compulsory military service, with Lee Chuan (李銓), a member of boy band Choc7 (超克7), and actor Daniel Chen (陳大天) among those summoned. The New Taipei City District Prosecutors’ Office in January launched an investigation into a group that was allegedly helping men dodge compulsory military service using falsified medical documents. Actor Darren Wang (王大陸) has been accused of being one of the group’s clients. As the investigation expanded, investigators at New Taipei City’s Yonghe Precinct said that other entertainers commissioned the group to obtain false documents. The main suspect, a man surnamed
RSS