Accelerating Arms Transfers to Taiwan Act
Bill: H.R.8842 | Sponsor: Rep. Chabot, Steve (R-OH)
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
Accelerating Arms Transfers to Taiwan Act
This bill adds Taiwan to the statutory list of high priority countries for transferring defense articles, directs the Department of Defense to use the Special Defense Acquisition Fund for defense articles to Taiwan, and eliminates restrictions on the stockpiling of defense articles in Taiwan.

To authorize the transfer of certain defense articles and services to 
                    Taiwan, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Accelerating Arms Transfers to 
Taiwan Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The United States is committed to providing Taiwan arms 
        of a defensive character under section 2(b)(5) of the Taiwan 
        Relations Act (22 U.S.C. 3301(b)(5)) and under the Six 
        Assurances.
            (2) The rapid military modernization undertaken by the 
        People's Liberation Army has progressively sifted the balance 
        of power in the Taiwan Strait so that it is increasingly likely 
        that the People's Republic of China will assess that it is 
        viable to determine the future of Taiwan by other than peaceful 
        means.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that the United States and Taiwan have 
not sufficiently sought to expedite the delivery of arms to Taiwan.

SEC. 4. PRIORITY FOR DELIVERY OF EXCESS DEFENSE ARTICLES TO TAIWAN.

    Section 516(c)(2) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 
2321j(c)(2)) is amended by striking ``and to the Philippines'' and 
inserting ``, to the Philippines, and to Taiwan''.

SEC. 5. USE OF SPECIAL DEFENSE ACQUISITION FUND.

    The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of 
State, shall seek to utilize the Special Defense Acquisition Fund 
established under chapter 5 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 
2795 et seq.) to expedite the procurement and delivery of defense 
articles and defense services for the purpose of assisting and 
supporting the armed forces of Taiwan.

SEC. 6. ESTABLISHMENT OF WAR RESERVE STOCKPILE IN TAIWAN.

    Section 514(c)(2) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 
2321h(c)(2)) is amended by inserting after ``Thailand'' the following 
``, Taiwan''.

SEC. 7. REPORT.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of 
State shall jointly submit to the appropriate congressional committees 
a report regarding the planned use of the authorities described in this 
Act and the amendments made by this Act.
    (b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include 
the following:
            (1) With respect to the authorities provided under section 
        4--
                    (A) a list of current and prospective excess 
                defense articles that are or will be provided to 
                Taiwan; and
                    (B) a list of excess defense articles determined to 
                be required by Taiwan but the delivery of which was or 
                will be prioritized for another country over the 
                delivery of such articles to Taiwan.
            (2) Current and prospective uses of the Special Defense 
        Acquisition Fund to decrease timelines for the delivery of 
        defense articles and services to Taiwan.
            (3) The advantages of establishing a war reserve stockpile 
        in Taiwan and the defense items necessary to make such 
        stockpile an effective contribution to coalition war fighting.
            (4) With respect to Presidential authorities under section 
        506(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 
        2318(a)), a description, informed by ongoing war planning, of 
        the anticipated defense articles and services that Taiwan will 
        require in the event of a range of unforeseen defense 
        emergencies, the cost of such articles and services, and the 
        capacity of the United States to provide such articles and 
        services in a timely manner.
    (c) Form.--The report required by subsection (a) may be submitted 
in classified form.
    (d) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section, 
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
            (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on 
        Armed Services of the House of Representatives; and
            (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on 
        Armed Services of the Senate.
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