“Not a Bargaining Chip”: FAPA and Bipartisan Lawmakers Urge President Trump to Approve $14B Taiwan Arms Package
On May 14, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing for a high-stakes summit. While Xi aggressively warned that “mishandling” Taiwan could push China and the U.S. into “clashes and even conflicts,” the White House’s subsequent decision to omit Taiwan entirely from its official readout of the talks strongly signals that Washington does not view Taiwan’s security as open to negotiation.
During an interview after the summit, Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated that “U.S. policy on the issue of Taiwan is unchanged” and warned that “anything that would compel or force a change in what we have now [across the Taiwan Strait] would be problematic.” He added that it would be a terrible mistake for China to pursue annexation by force or through any coercive means, reaffirming steadfast U.S. opposition to any unilateral attempt by China to alter the cross-Strait status quo by force.
The summit took place as a $14 billion Taiwan arms package remained stalled by the executive branch, with President Donald Trump saying he had not yet made a final decision and indicating that he would decide after further consultations, including with Taiwan’s leadership. The package includes counter-drone assets, an integrated battle command system, and medium-range munitions, which are essential for bolstering Taiwan’s defense capabilities.
Taiwan’s Security Is Not a Bargaining Chip
The Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA) strongly emphasized that U.S. arms sales to Taiwan should never be tied to negotiations with Beijing. In a May 14 statement, FAPA National President Dr. Su-Mei Kao said such arms sales should solely reflect Taiwan’s self-defense needs and the long-standing U.S. commitments under the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) and the Six Assurances to Taiwan.
She added that Taiwan’s defense requirements “must never be treated as a bargaining chip” in broader U.S.-China negotiations. Under the Six Assurances, the U.S. is pledged not to consult Beijing prior to arms sales to Taiwan. First articulated under the Reagan administration in 1982, the Six Assurances have remained a cornerstone of U.S. policy for over four decades, alongside the TRA, ensuring that Taiwan’s security remains independent of Beijing’s influence or pressure.
Strong Congressional Support for Arms Sales to Taiwan
Bipartisan lawmakers in both chambers have actively pressed the administration to move forward with the stalled release of the $14 billion arms package for Taiwan.
In a bipartisan letter sent on May 8 ahead of the Trump-Xi summit in Beijing, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and their colleagues urged President Trump to “formally notify the $14 billion in U.S. arms sales to Taiwan that Congress pre-approved” and stressed that “American support for Taiwan is not up for negotiation.”
This momentum was further reinforced by Representative Jill Tokuda’s (D-HI) May 12 introduction of H.Res.1278 alongside a bipartisan coalition of 22 original cosponsors. The resolution reaffirms the TRA and the Six Assurances as cornerstones of U.S. policy regarding Taiwan, while reiterating unwavering support for Taiwan’s self-defense and resolute opposition to any unilateral efforts to determine the future of Taiwan by other than peaceful means.
FAPA’s Call to Action
“Those commitments must now be backed by concrete action,” FAPA National President Dr. Kao emphasized. FAPA is calling on the Trump administration to approve the pending $14 billion arms package to bolster Taiwan’s defense capabilities and strengthen deterrence against Beijing’s growing aggression.
FAPA also urges Congress to swiftly pass the Six Assurances to Taiwan Act (H.R.3452 / S.3208) and the PORCUPINE Act (H.R.7146 / S.1744) to institutionalize U.S. commitments to Taiwan and ensure they remain clear, strong, and credible, regardless of shifting diplomatic dynamics.
Sources:
[1] Taipei Times [2] Focus Taiwan [3] NBC News (Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s Interview) [4] Taipei Times [5] Taipei Times [6] Focus Taiwan [7] Senate Foreign Relations Committee [8] FAPA [9] H.Res.1278 (Resolution Reaffirming Congressional Support for Taiwan) [10] H.R.3452 & S.3208 (Six Assurances to Taiwan Act) [11] H.R.7146 & S.1744 (PORCUPINE Act)
PORCUPINE Act Advanced by House Foreign Affairs Committee
On May 13, 2026, the House Foreign Affairs Committee advanced the PORCUPINE Act (H.R.7146) through a unanimous 45-0 vote, signaling robust bipartisan support to expedite U.S. weapons deliveries to Taiwan. The House version was originally introduced by Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA) and co-led by Reps. Don Davis (D-NC), Ami Bera (D-CA), and Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA).
Earlier in the markup, the committee voted 31-14 to replace the similar Taiwan PLUS Act with the PORCUPINE Act as the main legislative vehicle. The bill’s Senate companion (S.1744) had previously passed the Senate by unanimous consent in December 2025.
Why the Bill Matters
This critical legislation streamlines U.S. arms sales to Taiwan by reducing the congressional notification and review periods to as short as 15 days and effectively granting Taiwan “NATO Plus” treatment under the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), thereby accelerating the delivery of vital defense transfers.
Significantly, the bill amends the AECA to place Taiwan on par with the closest U.S. security allies, such as Israel, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, for specified arms-transfer procedures. Additionally, it seeks to establish an expedited decision-making process for third-party transfers of U.S.-origin defense articles and services from NATO and other NATO-Plus allies to Taiwan.
By cutting through bureaucratic red tape and directly addressing Taiwan’s critical arms sales backlog, the bill strengthens Taiwan’s asymmetric “porcupine strategy” to bolster its self-defense and maintain robust cross-Strait deterrence.
FAPA’s Petition
The Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA) has long advocated for elevating Taiwan to “NATO Plus” status to strengthen the U.S.–Taiwan security partnership. Since FAPA launched its petition on January 29, 2026, in support of the House version of the PORCUPINE Act, this grassroots advocacy has successfully mobilized broader congressional backing, securing at least 20 additional bipartisan cosponsors and propelling the legislation forward.
Sources:
[1] H.R.7146 & S.1744 (PORCUPINE Act) [2] Breaking Defense [3] FAPA [4] Taiwan Security Monitor (TSM) [5] FAPA
Bipartisan House Resolution Introduced to Celebrate Taiwanese American Heritage Week
On May 13, 2026, U.S. Representative Ami Bera (D-CA), Co-Chair of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, introduced a bipartisan resolution (H.Res.1280) supporting the designation of May 10–16, 2026, as Taiwanese American Heritage Week (TAHW).
The resolution is co-led by Representatives Michael McCaul (R-TX), Young Kim (R-CA), and Greg Stanton (D-AZ). Its additional cosponsors include Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Representatives Ro Khanna (D-CA), Brad Sherman (D-CA), James Walkinshaw (D-VA), and Dave Min (D-CA).
The resolution celebrates Taiwanese American heritage by:
- recognizing the contributions of more than 700,000 Taiwanese Americans;
- highlighting their leadership in business, science, public service, the Armed Forces, and human rights advocacy;
- affirming strong U.S.–Taiwan people-to-people ties and shared democratic values;
- recognizing Taiwan’s role as a key U.S. economic and technological partner; and
- marking the 47th anniversary of the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act as a cornerstone of U.S.–Taiwan relations.
What is Taiwanese American Heritage Week?
First observed in 1999, TAHW is celebrated annually in May during the week beginning on Mother’s Day to honor the history, culture, and contributions of Taiwanese Americans.
From the beginning, the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA) and its 44 chapters nationwide have worked alongside elected officials at every level of government to secure proclamations and letters of recognition, building one of the most prolific and sustained civic advocacy campaigns in the Taiwanese American community.
FAPA’s Longstanding Advocacy
Congressman Bera’s resolution is the first House resolution recognizing Taiwanese American Heritage Week since 2010. FAPA was honored to provide draft language for the resolution and to work with Rep. Bera’s office to advance this important recognition.
In an earlier May 10 statement, FAPA National President Dr. Su-Mei Kao (林素梅) stated: “By sharing our heritage, honoring our stories, and recognizing these contributions, Taiwanese Americans continue to serve as a vital bridge that strengthens the enduring bond between the United States and Taiwan.”
FAPA’s 2026 TAHW campaign has reached a record-breaking milestone. According to FAPA’s latest internal tally, at least 100 elected officials at various levels of government have issued proclamations or recognitions of TAHW, including 28 governors — the highest number in the campaign’s 27-year history.
Sources:
[1] Office of Rep. Ami Bera [2] H.Res.1280 (A Resolution Recognizing TAHW) [3] FAPA
Taiwanese Drone Firms Champion “Non-Red” Supply Chains at Premier International Exhibition
More than 20 Taiwanese companies and institutions, including the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) and leading drone producer Thunder Tiger, showcased Taiwan’s growing unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) industries at XPONENTIAL 2026, the world’s largest unmanned systems exhibition held in Detroit from May 11 to 14, 2026.
At the same event, Taiwan’s Drone Diplomacy Task Force signed a letter of intent (LOI) with the U.S.-based Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) to promote talent exchanges and international certification. AUVSI CEO Michael Robbins noted that Taiwan is AUVSI’s first choice for expanding its Green UAS certification due to its resilient “non-Red” supply chain and technical strengths in the UAV sector.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) reported that exports of complete drones reached a record US$115.85 million in the first quarter of 2026, already surpassing the 2025 full-year total of US$93.42 million. The United States was Taiwan’s third-largest drone export destination by value, while its top two export destinations — the Czech Republic and Poland — are close U.S. partners and NATO allies in Central and Eastern Europe.
Why it Matters
The Taiwanese drone industry delegation highlighted Taiwan’s pivotal role in building “non-Red” drone supply chains that can provide the United States and its allies with resilient, PRC-free UAV systems and components.
As Russia’s war against Ukraine has demonstrated the transformative importance of drones in modern warfare, the administration of President Lai Ching-te has prioritized the development of Taiwan’s domestic drone industry to bolster the nation’s asymmetric defense capabilities and deter a potential invasion by the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
Related Bill
In the U.S. Congress, lawmakers have consistently advanced legislation to reinforce the U.S.-Taiwan strategic partnership and bolster Taiwan’s indigenous drone production. On March 26, 2026, U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and John Curtis (R-UT) introduced the bipartisan “Blue Skies for Taiwan Act” (S.4259), with Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) joining as a cosponsor of the legislation.
The bill promotes the development of resilient unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in Taiwan that are free from PRC influence and China-linked supply-chain risks. It also directly seeks to establish “public-private partnerships between the United States and Taiwan for co-development and co-production of UAS systems and components,” strengthening both Taiwan’s defense and U.S. national security.
Implications
Taiwan’s growing UAS/UAV industry positions the nation as a reliable partner in both global defense production and democratic supply-chain resilience, offering secure, PRC-free drone systems and components to the United States and its allies.
However, the opposition-controlled Legislative Yuan’s exclusion of key funding for domestic drone manufacturing and defense autonomy from Taiwan’s recently passed NT$780 billion (US$24.8 billion) special defense budget highlights a concerning gap between Taiwan’s sovereign ambitions and the resources needed to scale production. This domestic funding shortfall makes continued U.S. congressional support for U.S.-Taiwan drone cooperation and resilient, “non-Red” supply chains even more critical to ensuring robust, long-term deterrence.
Sources:
[1] Focus Taiwan [2] Taipei Times [3] Taipei Times [4] Focus Taiwan [5] S.4259 (Blue Skies for Taiwan Act) [6] FAPA
