Washington, D.C. — Representatives Zach Nunn (IA-03) and Jill Tokuda (HI-02) today introduced the United States-Taiwan Defense Innovation Partnership Act, bipartisan legislation to accelerate defense technology collaboration between the United States and Taiwan in response to ongoing aggression from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party Chairman John Moolenaar (MI-02) and Representative Ashley Hinson (IA-02) joined as original cosponsors.
“The complex security challenges that the United States and our allies and partners face in the Indo-Pacific call for new and innovative technologies, approaches, and vendors,” said Rep. Tokuda. “That’s why I’m proud to cosponsor this bill with Congressman Nunn to establish a defense innovation partnership between the U.S. Department of Defense and Taiwan’s defense ministry and promote strategic and meaningful collaborative efforts, strengthen our allies’ defense industrial base, and counter the CCP’s growing technological and military influence. This effort will benefit both Taiwan and the United States as we work together to solidify a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
“The Chinese Communist Party has made clear its intent to take Taiwan by 2027,” said Rep. Nunn. “The defense partnership laid out in this bill will be a critical deterrence tool, accelerating Taiwan’s access to next-generation U.S. technology and giving them the asymmetric edge they need to defend their sovereignty.”
The United States-Taiwan Defense Innovation Partnership Act directs the U.S. Department of Defense to work directly with Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense through their respective Defense Innovation Units. This cooperation will fast-track the development and fielding of dual-use technologies—such as drones, artificial intelligence, microchips, and advanced surveillance systems—that enhance collective deterrence and reinforce America’s strategic edge in the region.
“With each passing day, Xi Jinping expands coercion aimed at Taiwan,” said House Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar. “This legislation would strengthen critical defense industrial collaboration with Taiwan while enhancing our shared readiness against an increasingly threatening Beijing.”
“Since coming to Congress, I have been a staunch advocate of our diplomacy with Taiwan, and I remain committed to maximizing our strategic partnership with our longstanding ally,” said Rep. Hinson. “I am proud to support Rep. Nunn’s legislation that will expand collaboration on emerging technologies, meaningfully counter China, and rejuvenate American innovation to modernize our defense industrial base so we can, together, deter our greatest adversary and remain the world’s most powerful military.”
In addition to establishing direct collaboration between the U.S. Department of Defense and Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense, the United States-Taiwan Defense Innovation Partnership Act would:
- Prioritize joint development of next-generation defense technologies, including drones, artificial intelligence, microchips, intelligence surveillance reconnaissance (ISR) systems, and directed energy weapons
- Strengthen coordination on supply chain resiliency and bolster both nations’ defense industrial bases
- Accelerate the deployment of critical capabilities to deter CCP aggression
By deepening our technological ties with Taiwan, this legislation reinforces America’s commitment to peace through strength. It empowers innovators, strengthens our allies, and sends a clear message to the CCP: the United States will stand firm against aggression and invest in the tools needed to defend freedom in the Indo-Pacific.
Text of the bill can be found here.
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