Legislation to expand opportunities for the development of unmanned aerial systems between the United States and Taiwan has been introduced in the Senate.
The Blue Skies for Taiwan Act, introduced by U.S. Sens. John Curtis (R-UT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Andy Kim (D-NJ) would expand cooperation between the two countries to combat pressure by the People’s Republic of China on Taiwan, and to chip away at the PRC ‘s dominance in the UAS supply chain. The bipartisan legislation seeks to promote UAS development, production and deployment and create PRC-independent drone systems.
“Strengthening our partnership with Taiwan is critical to advancing both American security and the stability of the Indo-Pacific,” Curtis said. “Our bipartisan legislation expands cooperation between the U.S. and Taiwan to build secure, resilient drone systems—cutting China out of the supply chain and reinforcing deterrence in the region.”
The legislation would enhance American national security and support the defense of Taiwan, a democratic partner for the U.S. in the Indo-Pacific region, law makers said. It would also create a Blue UAS Working Group, led by the U.S. Departments of State and War, to assess Taiwan’s drone production capacity and identify opportunities and impediments to incorporating Taiwan-manufactured UAS into the defense contracting systems.
Additionally, the legislation establishes a framework with regional allies to support secure, PRC-independent drone supply chains and expand opportunities for Taiwan’s drone industry, and instructs the Departments of State and War to fast-track certification for Taiwan drone and drone component manufacturers.
“Our longstanding partnership with Taiwan demands the United States use all the tools at our disposal to strengthen Taiwan’s security and counter China’s coercive tactics,” Merkley said. “Our bipartisan effort not only protects American strategic interests and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, but it also ensures that Taiwan is well-equipped to develop unmanned aerial systems in support of its own defense and our national security. As Beijing escalates its pressure campaign, American support for Taiwan will remain ironclad.”