The US House of Representatives Armed Services Committee passed a US$601 billion defense bill on Thursday that included an order for the Pentagon to submit a report on the balance of forces between China and Taiwan, and reiterated the US’ “longstanding commitment to Taiwan’s security.”
The committee passed its version of the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act in the early hours of Thursday morning after hours of debate on Wednesday.
The committee’s version also encourages US President Barack Obama’s administration to issue an invitation to Taiwan to participate in this year’s Rim of the Pacific naval exercises “to enhance the Taiwanese ability to contribute to regional peace and stability.”
“The Asia-Pacific region will help define US national security challenges in the coming decades,” said Representative Randy Forbes, the chairman of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, who pushed hard for the amendments on Taiwan.
The full House is expected to consider the legislation, which covers the fiscal year that begins on Oct. 1, starting the week of May 19.
Pundits say the bill is likely to pass the Republican-controlled House, but will almost certainly be modified by the Democratic-controlled Senate.
The amendments concerning Taiwan may well survive the Senate as members concentrate on winning back at least some of Obama’s proposed spending cuts.
In this mid-term election year, the bill restores personnel benefits that had been cut by Obama and keeps several military bases open that had been scheduled for closure.
It also authorizes spending to keep some favored weapon systems, ships and aircraft — including the U-2 spy plane and the A-10 close-air support aircraft, which the air force wants to retire.
US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel had appealed earlier in the week for the US Congress to make “tough choices.”
He asked lawmakers to stick with the administration’s proposed cuts, “looking at our broader national interests instead of narrow constituencies.”
Additional reporting by staff writer
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