Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/11/01
By: Chiang Chin-yeh and Elizabeth Hsu

Washington, Oct. 31 (CNA) The content of the U.S. Senate's version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2020 that touches on Taiwan affairs has not been kept in a curtailed version of the bill, which it is hoped will pass legislation by the end of the year.

Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, introduced the "skinny" NDAA for fiscal 2020 "to ensure that critical defense programs are authorized," according to a statement released by Inhofe Tuesday.

The move was made amid intense negotiations and voting on government budget bills for the new fiscal year in Congress before it enters recess in mid-December.

Almost every part of the NDAA related to military cooperation and exchanges with foreign countries, including Taiwan, have been deleted in the 67-page streamlined version, except for parts relating to the militarily and politically tense Middle East.    [FULL  STORY]