U.S. House Introduces PORCUPINE Act to Grant Taiwan “NATO-Plus” Status
On January 16, 2026, Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA) introduced the bipartisan Providing Our Regional Companions Upgraded Protection in Nefarious Environments (PORCUPINE) Act (H.R. 7146) in the House, co-led by Reps. Don Davis (D-NC), Ami Bera (D-CA), and Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA). The Senate companion bill (S. 1744), introduced by Sens. Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Chris Coons (D-DE), had previously passed the Senate by unanimous consent on December 11, 2025.
The bill would designate Taiwan as a “NATO Plus” partner under the Arms Export Control Act, shortening congressional notification periods and raising approval thresholds to streamline arms sales. These measures help address the approximately $32 billion backlog and strengthen deterrence against escalating aggression by the People’s Republic of China (PRC). It also seeks to establish a mechanism for expedited third-party transfers of U.S.-made defense items from NATO and other “NATO Plus” countries to Taiwan.
Why It Matters
As Chinese aggression continues—most recently demonstrated by the large-scale air and maritime exercise around Taiwan — the urgency of ensuring Taiwan receives critical defense capabilities in a timely manner has never been greater.
The PORCUPINE Act underscores unequivocal support for Taiwan by removing key bureaucratic hurdles to arms deliveries and ensuring Taiwan receives the capabilities needed to deter a PRC invasion.
Congressional Support
Beyond Foreign Military Sales (FMS), Congress has continued to pursue alternative channels to strengthen Taiwan’s self-defense. The House Appropriations Committee just released its version of the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026, which includes $1.15 billion to support U.S.–Taiwan security cooperation.
These allocations build on the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), signed into law in December 2025, which authorizes up to $1 billion for the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative (TSCI) to bolster Taiwan’s self-defense through combat casualty support, joint training, the development of uncrewed systems, and other measures.
Implications
FAPA has long advocated for the “NATO Plus” status for Taiwan and has played an active role alongside Sen. Pete Ricketts’ office, the PORCUPINE Act’s Senate sponsor, from the bill’s introduction through its passage in the Senate.
Besides nationwide petition campaigns, FAPA also mobilized grassroots support at its National Advocacy Conference in September 2025, visiting more than 130 Congressional offices to raise awareness and secure support for the bill. Building on this momentum, FAPA will continue its advocacy in the House to ensure the PORCUPINE Act becomes law.
The PORCUPINE Act is currently pending markup in the House Foreign Affairs Committee, a necessary step before it can advance to the House floor and, if passed, be sent to the President for signature into law.
Sources:
[1] Office of Rep. Rob Wittman [2] H.R. 7146 & S. 1744 (PORCUPINE Act) [3] Taipei Times [4] TSM [5] GTI [6] House Appropriations Committee [7] Taipei Times [8] S. 1071 (FY2026 NDAA) [9] FAPA
China Weaponizes Dubious Legal Claims to Pressure Europe into Blocking Taiwanese Officials
China is escalating its use of diplomatic coercion to block Taiwan’s international engagement in Europe. In a January 13, 2026 report, The Guardian reported that Chinese officials have pressured European governments to deny entry to Taiwanese officials, offering misleading “legal advice” to justify such restrictions. European Union (EU) diplomats noted that the effort followed recent high-profilevisits to Europe by Taiwanese leaders, including Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung, and former President Tsai Ing-wen, in late 2025.
Beijing has cited specific provisions of the Schengen Borders Code that allow entry to be denied if a non-EU individual is “considered to be a threat to the … international relations of any of the member states,” arguing that allowing Taiwanese officials to enter a European country would threaten that country’s international relations with China. In other instances, Beijing has urged countries to follow the United Nations’ (UN) exclusionary example by barring Taiwanese officials from entering government buildings.
Why It Matters
China is systematically distorting international law to advance its geopolitical ambition of annexing Taiwan. This includes falsely claiming that U.S. policy toward Taiwan endorses Beijing’s “One China principle,” despite the fact that U.S.policy — grounded in the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances — has never recognized the PRC sovereignty over Taiwan.
Globally, China has pursued comparable legal and diplomatic distortion campaigns. Taiwan experts Bonnie Glaser and Jessica Drun have documented Beijing’s sustained effort to reinterpret UN General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 2758 — which in fact does not address Taiwan’s sovereignty — as the international legal basis for asserting that Taiwan is part of the PRC.
According to data compiled by Benjamin Herscovitch of the Lowy Institute:
- As of January 2025, Taiwan has only 11 remaining diplomatic allies that are UN members.
- Significantly, 119 countries (about 62 % of UN members) have endorsed Beijing’s “One China principle,” thereby recognizing the PRC’s sovereignty over Taiwan.
- Furthermore, 89 countries (nearly half of all UN members) support China’s “national reunification” without explicitly conditioning it on peaceful means.
Congressional Attention
Mounting concern on Capitol Hill has prompted lawmakers to advance legislation aimed at counteringChina’s coercion and supporting Taiwan’s international participation. The Taiwan International Solidarity Act (H.R. 2416, which passed the House in May 2025, and S. 2224, which was advanced by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in October 2025) seeks to counter China’s fabricated claims of sovereignty over Taiwan and its growing efforts to exclude Taiwan from international organizations.
Meanwhile, the Taiwan Allies Fund Act (H.R. 2559 & S. 1216), designed to supportTaiwan’s official and unofficial partners facing Chinese coercion and pressure, was incorporated into the State Department reauthorization package advanced by the House Foreign Affairs Committee in September 2025.
Implications
Despite China’s campaign of diplomatic isolation, Taiwan continues to expand substantive cooperation with like-minded partners such as the U.S., Japan, Australia, and the U.K. through initiatives, such as the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF). The recent State Department Appropriations Bill (H.R. 7006) further underscores this support, specifically not less than $4 million in funding dedicated to the program.
Sources:
[1] The Guardian [2] European Union [3] German Marshall Fund [4] Washington Post [5] Lowly Institute [6] Human Rights Watch [7] House Select Committee on the CCP [8] H.R. 2416 & S. 2224 (Taiwan International Solidarity Act) [9] H.R. 2559 & S. 1216 (Taiwan Allies Fund Act) [10] GCTF [11] H.R. 7006 (State Department Appropriations Bill)