Wednesday, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) joined a bipartisan group of senators to introduce the Taiwan Partnership Act, which would establish a partnership between the U.S. National Guard and Taiwanese defense forces to ensure a well-integrated defense force capable of fast deployment during a crisis.
“Taiwan is a sovereign nation, valuable ally, and a critical partner in deterring Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific,” said Senator Todd Young. “I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Taiwan Partnership Act and working to forge a more dynamic and mutually beneficial security relationship with the Taiwanese armed forces.”
The Taiwan Partnership Act was introduced by U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and cosponsored by Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.).
The Taiwan Partnership Act would:
- Develop a partnership program between the U.S. National Guard and Taiwan;
- Increase exchanges between senior defense officials and general officers of the U.S. and Taiwan to improve interoperability, improve Taiwan’s reserve forces, and expand humanitarian and disaster relief cooperation;
- Expand Taiwan’s capability to conduct security activities, including traditional combatant commands, cooperation with the National Guard, and multilateral activities;
- And require an annual report by the Secretary of Defense on the cooperation between the National Guard and Taiwan.
Read the full bill text here.
