TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A US congressional commission Tuesday (Nov. 19) proposed a legal amendment to enable Taiwan to receive the same arms sales status as NATO Plus countries.
In its annual report, the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC) included two Taiwan-related recommendations. One key suggestion was to amend the Arms Export Control Act.
The report spans 793 pages and analyzes issues such as US-China trade relations, US-China security matters, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. In the Taiwan section, it recommended amending the Arms Export Control Act of 1976 to elevate Taiwan's military sales status to the same level as NATO Plus countries, which include Japan, Australia, South Korea, Israel, and New Zealand.
If the amendment passes, US military sales to Taiwan would only require congressional approval for transactions over US$25 million (NT$893 million), compared to the current threshold of US$14 million.
In addition, the report suggests the US Congress establish a "Taiwan Allies Fund" to provide assistance to countries that have diplomatic relations with Taiwan. These countries could receive up to 15% of the total fund annually, but any nation that breaks diplomatic ties with Taiwan would immediately lose eligibility.
The report also notes that Taiwan remains a “potential flashpoint for conflict with China.” The USCC observed that China continues to seek annexation of Taiwan through various means from “information operations to shape Taiwan's public opinion to the use of force.”
Although President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) administration plans to counter China's military threat with asymmetric defense strategies, the report said China's gray zone military activities near Taiwan have presented challenges. The report's authors believe this will force Taiwan to choose between countering these activities or focusing on defense against a potential invasion.
The USCC suggests the US can assist Taiwan in countering China's gray zone military activities and provide the necessary weaponry for asymmetric warfare. However, it added Taiwan faces obstacles to quickly arming itself due to the limitations of the US defense industrial base and protracted delivery timelines.
As a result, the USCC said Taiwan will continue to rely on US deterrence as the People's Liberation Army nears its “2027 and mid-century modernization goals.” Even if an invasion can be deterred, the report warned that China is continuing to develop the capacity to quarantine or blockade Taiwan.