SECURITY COOPERATION: The US Senate’s bill calls on Washington to support Taiwan’s acquisition of defensive weapons, especially those for asymmetric and undersea warfare
Taipei Times
Date: Jun 20, 2018
By: Stacy Hsu / Staff reporter
The Taiwanese government yesterday welcomed the US Senate’s passage of its
Presidential Office spokesman Sydney Lin addresses a news conference in an undated photo. Photo: Lee Hsin-fang, Taipei Times
annual defense spending bill, which includes a provision calling on Washington to strengthen defense and security cooperation with Taiwan.
The US Senate on Monday passed its version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2019 with a vote of 85 to 10.
Under Section 1243 of the draft bill published by the US Senate, the US Department of Defense is urged to strengthen defense and security cooperation with Taiwan “to support the development of capable, ready and modern defense forces necessary for Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability.”
The section also calls on Washington to support the acquisition of defensive weapons by Taiwan in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act, particularly those needed for asymmetric warfare and undersea warfare, as well as to promptly review and respond to Taiwan’s requests for defense equipment. [FULL STORY]
