[International] US Senate Defense Bill Includes Taiwan War Reserve Stock Program; Experts Say It Aids Deterrence
bellala 央廣3h ago
The U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services recently passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027, which includes a plan to establish war reserve stocks for Taiwan. Retired U.S. military officials analyze that this is a "great deterrent," sending a signal to China that if it improperly invades Taiwan, Taiwan will not only have its own weapons but also be able to use U.S. military weapons.
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is considered a major annual law in the United States. The Senate and House of Representatives must "iron out" a unified version, and after each passes it, it is signed into law by the President.
The Senate Committee on Armed Services passed the NDAA for FY2027 on the 11th, which will subsequently be sent to the full Senate for deliberation.
According to the published bill text, the content includes a plan to establish war reserve stocks for Taiwan (War Reserve Stock Program). Items that the U.S. can transfer to Taiwan include humanitarian and medical supplies, armor, artillery, ammunition for automatic weapons, missiles, and other munitions for Taiwan's reserve stocks, stored in reserve depots within Taiwan.
In response, retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery recently told CNA reporters in an interview that he has advocated for the Taiwan War Reserve Stock Program for many years and is pleased that the Senate bill includes this provision, hoping it will eventually be successfully passed.
He believes, "This is a great deterrent," sending a signal to China that if it takes improper aggressive action against Taiwan, Taiwan will not only possess its own weapons but also be able to utilize U.S. military weapons.
Montgomery, now a senior fellow at the Washington-based think tank Foundation for Defense of Democracies, pointed out that in times of war or crisis, "it is crucial that any supplies and ammunition we intend to transfer to Taiwan are already stored locally."
If necessary, the U.S. can directly transfer weapons stored in depots to Taiwan for use.
In addition, the bill also includes renaming the "Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative" to the "First Island Chain Security Cooperation Initiative" (FICSCI) and making the Philippines eligible to receive assistance under this authorization.
Rupert Hammond-Chambers, president of the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council, replied to reporters via email, expressing his pleasure with this approach. "We should consider Taiwan within the context of the First Island Chain, which will promote deeper cooperation and important interoperability between the U.S., Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines."
Zack Cooper, a senior fellow at the Washington think tank American Enterprise Institute (AEI) and an expert on Asian security issues, also said that U.S. lawmakers are trying to strengthen security cooperation throughout the First Island Chain to maintain deterrence, especially in response to potential situations in Taiwan. "In my view, this is a good thing." (Editor: Song Wanyuan)
Source Link: https://www.rti.org.tw/news?uid=3&pid=215733
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