TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The US Senate passed a defense spending bill on Wednesday that includes nearly NT$10 billion for military articles and training for Taiwan and is headed for US President Joe Biden's desk for signature into law.
On Dec. 11, the US$895.2 billion National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 passed in the US House of Representatives with a vote of 281-140. On Wednesday, the bill passed by a wider margin in the Senate with a final tally of 85-14.
The bill includes funding to promote the “Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative,” modeled after the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. It allocates US$300 million (NT$9.7 billion) to provide Taiwan with a broad spectrum of military equipment, services, and training.
The bill states the Pentagon and State Department can use this initiative to bolster Taiwan's military capabilities. The bill also authorizes training for critical operations and maintenance.
The bill requires the State Department and Pentagon to provide Taiwan with defense supplies and services from US inventories.
Other Taiwan-related provisions include establishing a program between the US and Taiwan for military trauma care. This is to be conducted by US military medical personnel and the Taiwanese military.
The bill says that Taiwan's naval forces should be invited to participate in the Rim of the Pacific exercise next year.
Before the vote, US Senate Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said, “The NDAA is not perfect, but it still makes several important advances Democrats fought for.” He added the bill “has strong provisions to stand up against the Chinese Communist Party here on a national security basis.”