Kaine & Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Strengthen U.S.-Taiwan Defense Cooperation, Counter Aggression by People's Republic of China

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, has joined U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Representatives Michelle Steel (R-CA-45) and Steven Horsford (D-NV-4) in introducing bipartisan, bicameral legislation to strengthen U.S.-Taiwan defense cooperation to counter China’s growing military expansion in the region. The Transpacific Allies Investing in Weapons to Advance National (TAIWAN) Security Act would require the Secretary of Defense to enhance defense industrial base cooperation between the U.S. and Taiwan in order to deepen U.S.-Taiwan defense ties, promote supply chain security, and help alleviate Taiwan’s readiness challenges.

“Taiwan is one of our closest partners in the Indo-Pacific, and linking arms with our allies makes all of us safer,” said Kaine. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan legislation to strengthen defense cooperation with Taiwan and deter ongoing aggression from the Chinese military.”

Kaine has long supported strengthening defense ties with Taiwan and other partners in the Indo-Pacific to counter aggression by the People’s Republic of China, including through the Australia-U.K.-U.S. (AUKUS) partnership, in which the United States will sell Virginia-class submarines, a significant portion of which are built in Hampton Roads, to Australia. In April of this year, Kaine helped pass the national security supplemental funding package, which includes military assistance funding and resources to replenish stocks given to Taiwan. Earlier this year, Kaine led a bipartisan resolution commending Taiwan for its commitment to democratic elections and institutions, despite ongoing threats from the People’s Republic of China. He has also led the introduction of bipartisan legislation to safeguard internet freedom in Hong Kong from the PRC and to strengthen and modernize the U.S.-Philippines security partnership to counter Chinese military pressure in the South China Sea.

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