Taiwan Security Act of 2017

Summary: Taiwan Security Act of 2017 This bill directs the Department of Defense (DOD) to carry out a program of exchanges of senior military officers and senior officials between the United States and Taiwan that are designed to improve military relations.  Exchanges should focus on:  threat analysis; military doctrine; force planning; logistical support; intelligence collection and analysis; operational tactics, techniques, and procedures;  humanitarian assistance and disaster relief; and  civil-military relations.   Such exchanges should be conducted in the United States and Taiwan.  The United States shall: (1) conduct regular transfers of defense articles to Taiwan to support its efforts to develop and integrate asymmetric capabilities into its military forces, and (2) host senior officials of the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense for an annual strategic dialogue on arms sales to ensure the regular transfer of such articles.  DOD shall invite Taiwan's military forces to participate in: (1) the 2018 Rim of the Pacific Exercise; and (2) one of the Red Flag military exercises at either Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, or Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.  DOD shall: (1) reestablish regular ports of call by the U.S. Navy in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, or in other suitable ports on Taiwan; and (2) permit the United States Pacific Command to receive ports of call by Taiwan's navy in Hawaii, Guam, or other appropriate locations. 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Taiwan Security Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Since 1949, the close relationship between the United 
        States and Taiwan has been of enormous benefit to both parties.
            (2) The security of Taiwan and its democracy are key 
        elements for the continued peace and stability of the greater 
        Asia-Pacific region, and the indefinite continuation of that 
        security is in the vital national security interests of the 
        United States.
            (3) Taiwan and its diplomatic partners continue to face 
        sustained pressure and coercion from the People's Republic of 
        China to isolate Taiwan from the international community.
            (4) The military balance of power along the Taiwan Strait 
        continues to shift in favor of the People's Republic of China, 
        which is currently engaged in a comprehensive military 
        modernization campaign to enhance the power-projection 
        capabilities of the People's Liberation Army.
            (5) Since the United States discontinued annual arms sales 
        talks in 2001, defense article transfers to Taiwan have ceased 
        to occur in a routine manner.
            (6) Recent delays, denials, and reductions of arms sales do 
        not optimize the ability of Taiwan to defend its democracy 
        against potential aggression from the People's Republic of 
        China.

SEC. 3. MILITARY EXCHANGES BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND TAIWAN.

    (a) Military Exchanges Between Senior Officers and Officials of the 
United States and Taiwan.--The Secretary of Defense shall carry out a 
program of exchanges of senior military officers and senior officials 
between the United States and Taiwan designed to improve military to 
military relations between the United States and Taiwan.
    (b) Exchanges Described.--For the purposes of this section, an 
exchange is an activity, exercise, event, or observation opportunity 
between members of the Armed Forces and officials of the Department of 
Defense, on the one hand, and armed forces personnel and officials of 
Taiwan, on the other hand.
    (c) Focus of Exchanges.--The exchanges under the program required 
by subsection (a) should include exchanges focused on the following:
            (1) Threat analysis.
            (2) Military doctrine.
            (3) Force planning.
            (4) Logistical support.
            (5) Intelligence collection and analysis.
            (6) Operational tactics, techniques, and procedures.
            (7) Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
    (d) Civil-Military Affairs.--The exchanges under the program 
required by subsection (a) should include activities and exercises 
focused on civil-military relations, including relations between the 
military and parliament.
    (e) Locations of Exchanges.--The exchanges under the program 
required by subsection (a) should be conducted in both the United 
States and Taiwan.
    (f) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) The term ``senior military officer'', with respect to 
        the Armed Forces, means a general or flag officer of the Armed 
        Forces on active duty.
            (2) The term ``senior official'', with respect to the 
        Department of Defense, means a civilian official of the 
        Department of Defense at the level of Assistant Secretary of 
        Defense or above.

SEC. 4. ENHANCED DIPLOMATIC CONTACTS WITH TAIWAN.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of 
State are authorized and encouraged, to the extent consistent with law, 
to send to Taiwan for visits officials of the Department of Defense and 
the Department of State, as applicable, at the Assistant Secretary 
level or above.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the high-
level visits authorized by subsection (a) will improve bilateral and 
multilateral policy coordination between the United States and Taiwan, 
and enhance dialogue between the United States and Taiwan, to promote 
peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

SEC. 5. ARMS SALES TO TAIWAN.

    (a) In General.--The United States shall conduct regular transfers 
of defense articles to Taiwan in order to support the efforts of Taiwan 
to develop and integrate asymmetric capabilities, including undersea 
warfare and air defense capabilities, into its military forces.
    (b) Annual Strategic Dialogue on Sales.--
            (1) In general.--The United States Government shall host 
        senior officials of the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense for 
        an annual strategic dialogue between the United States and 
        Taiwan on arms sales in order to ensure the regular transfer of 
        defense articles as described in subsection (a).
            (2) Element on final decision on requested transfers in 
        annual dialogue.--Each strategic dialogue between the United 
        States and Taiwan pursuant to this subsection shall include a 
        presentation by United States officials to the Taiwan 
        delegation of final decisions by the United States regarding 
        the transfer of any defense articles requested by Taiwan within 
        the last fiscal year, whether pursuant to the Foreign Military 
        Sales program or the Direct Commercial Sales program.

SEC. 6. INVITATION OF TAIWAN MILITARY FORCES TO PARTICIPATE IN CERTAIN 
              JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES.

    The Secretary of Defense shall invite the military forces of Taiwan 
to participate in each of the following:
            (1) The 2018 Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC).
            (2) One of the military exercises known as the ``Red Flag'' 
        exercise, conducted at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, and 
        Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, that is conducted during the 
        one-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this 
        Act.

SEC. 7. NAVAL PORT OF CALL EXCHANGES BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND 
              TAIWAN.

    The Secretary of Defense shall--
            (1) reestablish regular ports of call by the United States 
        Navy in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, or in any other suitable port or 
        ports on the island of Taiwan; and
            (2) permit the United States Pacific Command to receive 
        ports of call by the navy of the Republic of China in Hawaii, 
        Guam, or other appropriate locations.

SEC. 8. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON DEFENSE SPENDING BY TAIWAN.

    Congress supports the plan of Taiwan to increase its defense 
spending to 3 percent of gross domestic product as a necessary and 
prudent means for Taiwan to enhance its military readiness and to more 
effectively provide for the defense of its citizens.

SEC. 9. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON TAIWAN AND NORTH KOREA.

    Congress supports the continued efforts of Taiwan to suspend all 
economic ties with North Korea, as well as the cooperation of Taiwan 
with the United States to achieve the peaceful denuclearization of 
North Korea.