TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — US senators on Wednesday promoted a bill to expand Taiwan’s drone system capabilities, reduce reliance on Chinese supply chains, and strengthen US-Taiwan drone cooperation.
On Tuesday, Senators Ted Cruz, John Curtis, Jeff Merkley, and Andy Kim introduced the “Blue Skies for Taiwan Act," per CNA. The bill would create a Blue UAS Working Group, led by the State Department and the Department of Defense, to assess Taiwan’s drone production capabilities and identify opportunities to include Taiwan-made drones in the Defense Contract Management Agency’s Blue UAS program.
The legislation also calls for a framework with regional allies to support a secure, “PRC-independent” drone supply chain and expand opportunities for Taiwan’s drone industry. It also authorizes the State Department and Department of Defense to establish a fast-track certification process for Taiwan’s drone and component manufacturers.
On Wednesday, Cruz said, “The Chinese Communist Party expends countless resources to erode the status of our Taiwanese allies and isolate them globally.” He added the bill would modernize the development and production of drone supply chains, enhance supply chain integration, and strengthen US-Taiwan defense cooperation.
Merkley said, “Our longstanding partnership with Taiwan demands the United States use all the tools at our disposal to strengthen Taiwan’s security and counter China’s coercive tactics.” The bipartisan measure protects US strategic interests, supports Indo-Pacific stability, and ensures Taiwan has the drone capabilities needed for defense and US national security.
The senators said the bill comes at a time of increasing CCP pressure on Taiwan, alongside China’s expanding control over the global drone supply chain.
Curtis said, “Strengthening our partnership with Taiwan is critical to advancing both American security and the stability of the Indo-Pacific." He said the bipartisan legislation would expand US-Taiwan collaboration in building secure and resilient drone systems, reduce dependence on Chinese supply chains, and strengthen deterrence against regional threats.
Kim said that most drone components currently rely on Chinese manufacturing, leaving the US, Taiwan, and other partners vulnerable to supply chain manipulation. He said the bill aims to support Taiwan’s drone manufacturing, effectively filling this critical gap.
