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.
MISINFORMATION: The generated content tends to adopt China’s official stance, such as ‘Taiwan is currently governed by the Chinese central government,’ the NSB said Five China-developed artificial intelligence (AI) language models exhibit cybersecurity risks and content biases, an inspection conducted by the National Security Bureau (NSB) showed. The five AI tools are: DeepSeek, Doubao (豆包), Yiyan (文心一言), Tongyi (通義千問) and Yuanbao (騰訊元寶), the bureau said, advising people to remain vigilant to protect personal data privacy and corporate business secrets. The NSB said it, in accordance with the National Intelligence Services Act (國家情報工作法), has reviewed international cybersecurity reports and intelligence, and coordinated with the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau and the National Police Agency’s Criminal Investigation Bureau to conduct an inspection of China-made AI language
BOOST IN CONFIDENCE: The sale sends a clear message of support for Taiwan and dispels rumors that US President Donald Trump ‘sold out’ the nation, an expert said The US government on Thursday announced a possible sale to Taiwan of fighter jet parts, which was estimated to cost about US$330 million, in a move that an expert said “sends a clear message of support for Taiwan” amid fears that Washington might be wavering in its attitude toward Taipei. It was the first announcement of an arms sale to Taiwan since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House earlier this year. The proposed package includes non-standard components, spare and repair parts, consumables and accessories, as well repair and return support for the F-16, C-130 and Indigenous Defense Fighter aircraft,
CHECKING BOUNDARIES: China wants to disrupt solidarity among democracies and test their red lines, but it is instead pushing nations to become more united, an expert said The US Department of State on Friday expressed deep concern over a Chinese public security agency’s investigation into Legislator Puma Shen (沈伯洋) for “secession.” “China’s actions threaten free speech and erode norms that have underpinned the cross-strait ‘status quo’ for decades,” a US Department of State spokesperson said. The Chongqing Municipal Public Security Bureau late last month listed Shen as “wanted” and launched an investigation into alleged “secession-related” criminal activities, including his founding of the Kuma Academy, a civil defense organization that prepares people for an invasion by China. The spokesperson said that the US was “deeply concerned” about the bureau investigating Shen
DISPUTE: A Chinese official prompted a formal protest from Tokyo by saying that ‘the dirty head that sticks itself out must be cut off,’ after Takaichi’s Taiwan remarks Four armed China Coast Guard vessels yesterday morning sailed through disputed waters controlled by Japan, amid a diplomatic spat following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments on Taiwan. The four ships sailed around the Senkaku Islands — known as the Diaoyutai Islands (釣魚台) to Taiwan, and which Taiwan and China also claim — on Saturday before entering Japanese waters yesterday and left, the Japan Coast Guard said. The China Coast Guard said in a statement that it carried out a “rights enforcement patrol” through the waters and that it was a lawful operation. As of the end of last month,
RSS