TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation pressed Taiwan Friday (July 31) to fast-track legislation for large-scale drone procurement. The lawmakers warned that unmanned vehicle capabilities are urgently needed as China intensifies military pressure on the self-governed island.
Rep. Young Kim (金映玉), chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific, told President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) during a meeting at the Presidential Office that Taiwan must act quickly. "The wars over Ukraine and Iran show that Taiwan needs to buy and build drones at a huge scale," Kim said. "Time is short, and the faster a comprehensive drone bill can pass, the better."
The visit underscores growing American impatience with Taiwan's defense reforms despite Taipei's commitment to raise military spending to 5% of GDP. Taiwan's Legislative Yuan, Taiwan's parliament, passed an NT$780 billion (around US$24 billion) special defense budget earlier this year. Comprehensive drone legislation remains under consideration.
Kim explicitly conditioned future U.S. military support on Taiwan's domestic defense initiatives. "Taiwan's deterrence takes two to tango," she said. "So help us, help you. The more concrete steps that Taiwan takes, the more the United States can do to support Taiwan."
President Lai responded by proposing that Taiwan and the United States work together to build "non-red supply chains" for drone production. Taiwan's advantages in semiconductors, information and communications technology, and precision manufacturing position the island to develop its drone industry, he said. The supply chains would exclude components from the People's Republic of China.
Lai said Taiwan's National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (中科院) recently passed rigorous cybersecurity assessments required for the U.S. defense supply chain. The certification demonstrates Taiwan's ability to comply with international regulations and protect critical technology, he said.
"Peace is achieved through strength," Lai said through a translator, invoking a doctrine popularized by U.S. President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s. "We are committed to further increasing Taiwan's military budget and bolstering whole-of-society defense resilience."
Lai stated Taiwan's position on cross-strait relations remains unchanged. "We will neither provoke nor act rashly, nor will we yield or back down," he said. "We will continue to staunchly maintain peace across the Taiwan Strait and stability in the region."
Kim emphasized that congressional support for Taiwan remains strong and bipartisan. Congress has expedited arms deliveries for Taiwan and is working to ease Taiwan's inclusion in international organizations, she said. The delegation represents California, Virginia, Iowa, and Texas, states with growing economic and cultural ties to Taiwan.
Kim warned that passing drone legislation should not mark the end of Taiwan's defense efforts. "Every new defense measure taken, including in strengthening Taiwan's military reserves, stiffens the resolve of free people everywhere against the malign intentions of the Chinese Communist Party," she said.
The delegation's visit from Thursday (July 30) to Saturday (Aug. 1) is part of a larger Indo-Pacific trip. Details of the proposed drone legislation, including bill sponsors and legislative timeline, were not immediately available. ◼ (At time of reporting, US$1 equals approximately NT$32.43)