TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The latest defense bill submitted by the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services requires the establishment of an arms stockpile for Taiwan.
On Monday (July 8), the committee formally filed the US$919.9 billion (NT$29.92 trillion) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025 to the full Senate for review. Provisions include supporting Taiwan's security, countering China, and requiring the Pentagon to establish an emergency weapons stockpile for Taiwan.
The Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Democratic Senator Jack Reed, through a statement urged Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to bring the bill to a vote in the Senate as soon as possible. Reed said: “This bill shows there is bipartisan support for doing more to maintain deterrence and protect American interests.”
According to the executive summary of the bill released by the Senate Armed Services Committee last month, the Taiwan-related provisions require the U.S. Department of Defense to formulate a long-term plan for establishing a regional contingency stockpile for Taiwan and to ensure strategic alignment between Taiwan and the U.S. defense industry. The legislation aims to “expand global defense production, increase supply chain security and resilience, and meet the defense needs of Taiwan.”
Taiwan-related provisions include requiring the U.S. Secretary of Defense to contact appropriate Taiwanese officials by March 1 next year to establish a U.S.-Taiwan military trauma care and research partnership. The Secretary of Defense would be required to submit a long-term plan for establishing a stockpile in Taiwan within 90 days of the bill's enactment.
According to the bill, Taiwan should be considered a target for enhanced defense industrial base cooperation. The Secretary of Defense would be required to contact appropriate Taiwanese officials within 180 days of the bill's enactment to field a common operating picture between the Taiwanese military and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
In addition, the bill mentions that the U.S. Secretary of Defense should continue to strengthen alliances and partnerships with allies in the Indo-Pacific region to boost the U.S. competitive advantage in strategic competition with China. This includes bolstering the U.S.-Taiwan partnership to improve Taiwan's defensive capabilities and “promoting peaceful cross-strait relations.”