TAIPEI (Taiwan News) —  Bipartisan legislation was introduced in both the U.S. House and Senate on Thursday (May 2) that calls for the U.S. Department of Defense to strengthen cooperation to counter China’s military expansion. 

The bicameral legislation is named the Transpacific Allies Investing in Weapons to Advance National Security, or the Taiwan Security Act. The bill calls for the secretary of defense to “appropriately consider Taiwan for enhanced defense industrial base.” 

A press release said the bill is designed to enhance cooperation between the defense industries of the U.S. and Taiwan, to promote supply chain security and alleviate some of Taiwan’s challenges when it comes to military readiness to defend against a possible attack by China.  

In the House, the bill was sponsored by Representative Michelle Steel of California, and co-sponsored by Steven Horsford of Nevada. In the Senate, it was put forward by Jacky Rosen of Nevada, and co-sponsored by Dan Sullivan of Arkansas. 

Steel said the Taiwan Security Act will “ensure the U.S. and Taiwan can adequately research, develop, and produce the defense supplies we need to stop the CCP’s advance and and protect democracy.” 

Horsford said the legislation is modeled on U.S. cooperation with India, and that that if passed, it will strengthen supply chain security for the entire Indo-Pacific Region. 

The full text of the bill has not yet been published. It is under review by the Foreign Affairs and Armed Services committees in the House of Representatives, and by the Senate’s Foreign Relations committee.