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US Senate Committee bill's provocative stance signals certain US lawmakers' attempt to deepen intervention into Taiwan question: expert

Global Times

By Fan Anqi and Bai Yunyi Published: Jul 20, 2025 11:29 PM

A US Senate Committee is attempting to push for defense budget bill for fiscal year 2026 with a more provocative stance on inviting Taiwan region to participate in the Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC), on which experts and observers said signals certain US lawmakers' attempt to deepen US intervention in the Taiwan question.

The US Senate Armed Services Committee recently passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026, sending it to the full Senate for a vote, per media reports. Compared to past versions that merely "suggested" inviting the island of Taiwan to RIMPAC, the 2026 Senate version takes a more provocative stance.

The bill "strongly encourages" the Secretary of Defense to invite Taiwan to RIMPAC "as appropriate," it said. Last year's House version included a similar proposal as a non-binding "Sense of Congress" statement. Such provisions reflect congressional opinion but have no legal force, according to the Taiwan local media.

On Friday, the US House of Representatives passed the Department of Defense Appropriations Act 2026, which includes $500 million for Taiwan. The bill, which totals $831.5 billion in discretionary spending, passed in a 221-209 vote, CNA reported Sunday.

While the bill passed, it faced oppositions from some lawmakers. Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene proposed to remove the $500 million in Taiwan-related funding, arguing that "increasing foreign aid to Taiwan will only increase its reliance on the United States" and said the US, with its $37 trillion in national debt, could not afford to continue foreign aid.

She also warned against potentially "instigating World War Three with China" and said the US should focus on its own border before addressing those of other countries.

Experts warn that the US Congress has long posed a major obstacle to China-US communication on the Taiwan question, which would greatly undermine regional security and peace.

Observers from the island questioned the invitation, warning that Taiwan's participation could raise concerns among other parties, and run counter to US' existing one-China policy that the US may not be able to handle the potential fallout. Moreover, if the island participates, mainland may view such a move as a provocation and a challenge to its red line on the one-China principle, Taiwan local media outlet China Times reported on Saturday.

Some others on the island commented that the US Congress makes similar recommendations every year, but none have materialized so far, so expectations this time should also remain low.

KMT legislator Ma Wen-chun noted that although Congress routinely introduces multiple pro-Taiwan provisions each year, whether they are included in the final bill remains uncertain.

Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, noted that the US Congress often plays an extreme and irresponsible role in shaping Taiwan-related policy, adding that Congress has consistently been the biggest obstacle to communication between China and the US on the Taiwan question. "Taiwan's lobbying groups have long infiltrated, and even effectively bought off some members of Congress, leading the legislature to prioritize domestic political considerations over the stability of China-US relations," Li told the Global Times on Sunday.

The act signals certain US lawmakers' attempt to deepen intervention in the Taiwan question, which could further heighten tensions and instability in the Asia-Pacific region. Li warned that the US is increasingly becoming a source of conflict and crisis in the region.

Wang Shushen, deputy director of the Institute of Taiwan Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Sunday that Congress often includes sensitive provisions within NDAA. The latest version reflects an increasingly assertive stance from lawmakers, but the final decision still rests with the executive branch, particularly the Department of Defense.

The concerns raised within the island of Taiwan also reflect that many in Taiwan have come to the painful realization that the US has all along played the "Taiwan card" to serve its own strategic interests, while Taiwan itself ultimately bears the risks.

Wang also noted that while the US house has passed the Department of Defense Appropriations Act 2026, it reflects the internal divisions in US policy toward Taiwan region, with the Republicans demanding that Taiwan increase its own budget. What's more, the $500 million has little substantial effect, and its use is heavily constrained as the US is also increasing aid to Ukraine, which may affect the provision of military aid to Taiwan island, Wang said.