Taiwan Security Act of 2017

To enhance the security of Taiwan and bolster its participation in the international community, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Taiwan Security Act of 2017 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. 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 (2) The term senior official 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. 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. 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 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. 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. 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.

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.