HR3563-119

2. Findings Congress finds the following: Taiwan is the 7th largest trading partner in goods with the United States. Taiwan is recognized by 12 countries as an independent state, and it is presently treated by the United States as a major non-NATO ally for purposes of the transfer or possible transfer of defense articles or defense services under section 1206 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 107–228; 22 U.S.C. 2321k note). The unclassified summary of the 2018 National Defense Strategy notably prioritized United States efforts to protect America’s allies and partners, stating that United States defense objectives include defending allies from military aggression, and bolstering partners against coercion, and fairly sharing responsibilities for common defense. The Taiwan Relations Act (Public Law 96–8; 22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.) states that the United States will make available to Taiwan such defense articles and defense services in such quantity as may be necessary to enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability. Consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act, the United States Congress has for more than four decades approved numerous defense articles and defense services for Taiwan’s self-defense, including, since 2017, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), F–16 C/D fighter jets, M142 launchers, MK 48 heavyweight torpedoes, Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems, Stinger man-portable air defense systems, M109A6 Paladin howitzers, MS–110 Airborne Reconnaissance Systems, Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods, and Field Information Communications Systems. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) data indicates that Taiwan was the United States largest Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customer in fiscal year 2020. DSCA data also indicates that from fiscal years 1950 through 2020, Taiwan was the United States third-largest Foreign Military Sales customer, tied with Japan. Since 2010, the Department of State has notified Congress of over $41,000,000,000 in FMS to Taiwan, and over $56,000,000,000 in FMS to Taiwan since 2001. The Taiwan Assurance Act of 2020 (subtitle B of title III of division FF of Public Law 116–260), states, the United States should conduct regular sales and transfers of defense articles to Taiwan in order to enhance its self-defense capabilities, particularly its efforts to develop and integrate asymmetric capabilities, including undersea warfare and air defense capabilities, into its military forces. Subparagraph (A) of section 1260(b)(1) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116–283) states, [the United States should continue] supporting acquisition by Taiwan of defense articles and services through foreign military sales, direct commercial sales, and industrial cooperation, with an emphasis on capabilities that support the asymmetric defense strategy of Taiwan, including anti-ship, coastal defense, anti-armor, air defense, undersea warfare, advanced command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, and resilient command and control capabilities.. Subparagraph (B) of section 1260(b)(1) of such Act further states that the United States should continue supporting the development of defense forces necessary for Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability by ensuring timely review of an response to response to requests of Taiwan for defense articles and services. In its 2019 Recommendations to Congress, the nonpartisan U.S.-China Economic and Security Commission issued the following judgement: Congress [should] raise the threshold of congressional notification on sales of defense articles and services to Taiwan to the highest tier set to U.S. allies and partners. Congress [should] also terminate any requirement to provide prior notification of maintenance and sustainment of military equipment and capabilities previously sold to Taiwan.. The Commission repeated this recommendation in its 2024 annual report.