The US House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a US$895 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which authorizes the Pentagon to provide up to US$300 million worth of military articles and training in support of Taiwan.
In a 281-140 vote, the House approved the 1,800-page national security bill to authorize funding for the US Department of Defense for next fiscal year.
US Representative Jack Bergman, chairman of the US House Armed Services Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations, before the vote said that it was a “critically important bill” that authorizes a Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative, which would enable Taiwan to maintain its self-defense capabilities.
Photo: Graeme Sloan, EPA-EFE
US Representative John Moolenaar, chairman of the US House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the US and the Chinese Communist Party, in a statement after the vote said that the bill requires “a feasibility study of entering into defense industrial agreements with Taiwan to promote lethality and supply chain resilience.”
Under the act, the US Department of Defense is authorized to earmark up to US$300 million next year to promote the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative.
A source on the US House Armed Service Committee on Tuesday said that the initiative is modeled on the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which allows the US to purchase military equipment directly from private companies for allies or partners.
The NDAA would allow the US Department of Defense and the US Department of State to augment Taiwan’s military capabilities in areas such as anti-tank, uncrewed aerial vehicles, long-range precision weapons, cyberdefense, electronic warfare and counter-electronic warfare capabilities, and integrated air and missile defense systems.
It also authorizes the provision of radars, anti-ship missiles, secure communications equipment, ammunition, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support, and critical combat training.
To speed up the delivery of arms to Taiwan, the bill requires the state and defense departments to provide Taiwan with defense articles and services from US inventories, and to provide defense supplies to foreign partners to replenish the stocks of similar supplies provided by those governments to Taiwan.
The bill also contains provisions related to the establishment of a partnership program between the US and Taiwan on military trauma care, amputation and amputee care, and mental health conditions associated with post-traumatic stress disorder.
The NDAA includes a “sense of congress” — a formal expression of opinion, but is not legally binding — that proposes inviting Taiwan’s naval forces to participate in next year’s Rim of the Pacific exercise.
It also includes another bill called the “BOLSTER Act,” which would pave the way for the US and its European counterparts to develop “coordinated plans” in response to any attempts by China to overthrow Taiwan’s government or occupy any of the territory under Taipei’s control.
Similar measures could also be imposed if China mounts cyberattacks that threaten civilian or military infrastructure in Taiwan or imposes a naval blockade around Taiwan.
The bill also requires the US president to submit a report to the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and to the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs on the expected economic impact of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s 30-day and 180-day blockade or quarantine of Taiwan.
The NDAA, finalized by the US Senate and House on Saturday, required the approval of both chambers of the US Congress and is to take effect once signed into law by the US president.
The allocation requires the passage of a separate appropriations bill.
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