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U.S. defense authorization bill supports Taiwan's self defense

ROC Central News Agency

2018/07/24 12:34:09

Washington, July 23 (CNA) The United States Congress has reached a consensus on an annual defense authorization bill that will include a provision expressing support for the strengthening of Taiwan's self-defense capabilities.

The Senate and House of Representatives agreed Monday on a version of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2019, but the final version has yet to be released.

Based on summaries of the reconciliation process issued by the Senate and House armed services committees, the two bodies proposed different wording to declare support for Taiwan.

The Senate Armed Services Committee's version said that in terms of Taiwan, the Senate "directs a comprehensive assessment on strengthening Taiwan's self-defense capabilities, and expresses the sense of Congress on the importance of a strong U.S. defense relationship with Taiwan."

For its part, the House Armed Services Committee's version said it supports "improving Taiwan's defense capabilities and force readiness" and the expansion of "joint training, foreign military sales, the use of security cooperation authorities, and senior level military-to- military engagements."

According to sources familiar with the matter, the actual wording in the finalized version of the bill will be closer to the Senate's version.

The bill will not become law until it is passed by both the House and Senate in identical form and then signed by the president.

The House is scheduled to cast a vote by Wednesday, and the Senate is expected to vote before it recesses in August.

(By Chiang Chin-yeh and Elizabeth Hsu)
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