A bipartisan bill, known as the PORCUPINE Act, was introduced in the US Senate on Tuesday. The legislation aims to speed up arms sales to Taiwan. Senators Pete Ricketts and Chris Coons revealed the bill, which seeks to simplify the US Arms Export Control Act. The bill would grant Taiwan the same privileges as NATO Plus countries, including Japan, South Korea, and Israel.
Currently, countries under the NATO Plus agreement receive quicker processing for defense sales. For instance, if a sale exceeds $25 million, the US president must notify Congress 15 days in advance. Countries not included in this group face a 30-day notification period for sales over $14 million. The PORCUPINE Act intends to reduce this delay for Taiwan, ensuring faster access to critical defense resources.
The new legislation also empowers the Secretary of State to create a faster approval process for defense transfers. These transfers can be carried out through various methods, including foreign military sales, grants, and direct commercial sales. This would significantly increase Taiwan’s ability to quickly acquire the weapons it needs to defend itself.
Senator Ricketts emphasized the urgency of this bill during his recent visit to Taiwan. He observed Taiwan’s readiness to defend against rising Chinese threats. However, he noted that outdated processes for arms sales have delayed crucial support. As a result, Taiwan has faced challenges in obtaining the necessary weapons on time.
Senator Coons echoed this concern. He highlighted that Taiwan is at the forefront of defending democratic values in the Indo-Pacific region. With ongoing Chinese pressure, it is vital to provide Taiwan with rapid access to defense systems. According to Coons, the PORCUPINE Act represents the first step in modernizing the US arms sales process.
The PORCUPINE Act also draws from Taiwan’s “porcupine strategy,” introduced in 2017. This strategy focuses on building deterrent defense capabilities, including lightweight weapons such as anti-ship missiles and portable air defense systems. The goal is to make any potential invasion by China too costly to succeed.
By passing the PORCUPINE Act, the US aims to ensure Taiwan has the resources needed to maintain a strong defense. The bill represents a crucial move toward improving Taiwan’s security as it faces increasing threats from China.
