RE: Taiwan This Week: Senate Passes NDAA with Pro-Taiwan Provisions; Calls Grow for Taiwan’s Inclusion in ICAO

[Frank S T Hsiao]

Hello, all. This is great. However, my guts feeling is that the Congress has information that Chicom is preparing to do something big on Taiwan and the US is preparing for Taiwan. Taiwan should be on full alert for possible Chinese invasion.

 

From: Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA) <Taiwa...@fapa.org>
Sent: Friday, October 17, 2025 11:13 AM
To: Frank S T Hsiao <frank...@colorado.edu>
Subject: Taiwan This Week: Senate Passes NDAA with Pro-Taiwan Provisions; Calls Grow for Taiwan’s Inclusion in ICAO

 

[External email - use caution]

 

October 17, 2025   This Week: (1) The U.S. Senate passed its annual defense bill containing multiple pro-Taiwan provisions; and (2) Taiwan’s allies called for its inclusion in ICAO during the organization’s latest Assembly. Let’s begin.     U.S. Senate Passes FY2026 NDAA with Robust Pro-Taiwan Provisions   On October 9, the U.S. Senate passed its version of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) (S. 2296), which contains multiple pro-Taiwan provisions aimed at strengthening U.S.–Taiwan defense cooperation, enhancing Taiwan’s deterrence capability, and supporting its international participation. The bill references “Taiwan” more than 40 times, reflecting strong bipartisan support in Congress.   Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative   The NDAA authorized $1 billion for the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative in FY2026 — more than triple the FY2025 level — to boost bilateral defense cooperation, military training, and combat-casualty care. The amount aligns with the version approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee in July.   Invitation to RIMPAC   The bill strongly encourages Taiwan’s participation in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, the world’s largest naval exercise, and requires the Secretary of Defense to explain any decision to exclude Taiwan. This represents a notable upgrade from previous NDAAs, which merely expressed support or directed an invitation, reflecting bipartisan and stronger congressional pressure to make U.S.–Taiwan defense cooperation more substantive.   Defense Acquisition Improvements   A provision specifically mandates that the foreign military sales (FMS) guidance prioritize timelines for critical purchasers, most notably Taiwan, alongside key allies such as Israel, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and NATO member states.   This measure directly addresses the $21.5 billion U.S. arms backlog to Taiwan and aligns with ongoing bipartisan legislative efforts — like the PORCUPINE Act and the Taiwan PLUS Act — to effectively treat Taiwan as a “NATO Plus” partner to expedite crucial arms deliveries by amending the Arms Export Control Act of 1976.   Taiwan Non-Discrimination Act   Also included in the NDAA package that passed the Senate is the Taiwan Non-Discrimination Act (S. 1900), sponsored by Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA). This measure directs the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, who also serves as the U.S. Governor to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), to “vigorously support the admission of Taiwan as a member” in the institution. A companion bill passed unanimously in the House on June 23.   U.S.–Taiwan Coast Guard Cooperation   The NDAA also authorizes the U.S. Coast Guard to expand and deepen its joint and integrated training with Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration. This cooperation is aimed at strengthening maritime security, law enforcement, and regional deterrence against threats like illegal fishing and illicit drug trafficking.   Drone and Defense Industrial Cooperation   The bill authorizes joint U.S.–Taiwan programs to co-develop and co-produce uncrewed and counter-uncrewed systems. It further directs the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to establish a strategic partnership with counterparts in Taiwan to strengthen the country’s defense industrial base and counter China’s development of dual-use technologies.   Report on Taiwan’s Critical Digital Infrastructure   The NDAA requires the Department of Defense to report on Taiwan’s critical digital infrastructure in the event of a Chinese invasion or blockade. The report must assess vulnerabilities in data transfer and outline Taiwan’s existing capabilities, while also identifying potential U.S. actions to bolster network protection, including through resilient low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite systems.   Taiwan Security Assistance Roadmap   It also sets a limit on the travel expenses to be used by the office of the U.S. Secretary of Defense until it submits the “Taiwan Security Assistance Roadmap” — a multiyear plan to fulfill the defensive requirements of Taiwan’s military forces — and submits a report on the Pentagon’s activities necessary for supporting the potential establishment of a regional contingency stockpile for Taiwan.   What’s Next   The Senate bill now moves to conference negotiations with the House, which passed its version (H.R. 3838) on September 10. Lawmakers will now reconcile the differences before sending the final, unified NDAA to the President for signature later this year.   [1] Central News Agency (in Hanji) [2] Taipei Times [3] Office of Sen. Dave McCormick [4] Taiwan Security Monitor     U.S. and Allies Call for Taiwan’s Inclusion in ICAO   The United States and ten of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies voiced firm support for Taiwan’s participation in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) during the body’s 42nd Assembly, held from September 23 to October 3 in Montreal, Canada, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).   ICAO, a specialized U.N. agency with 193 member states, sets global standards and policies to ensure aviation safety, security, and efficiency.   Safety Over Politics   Speaking at the ICAO Assembly on September 23, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that all international aviation stakeholders — particularly Taiwan — must be “meaningfully included” in ICAO’s technical activities.   “There is no room for politics on this question,” Duffy said. “This is about safety and security of the global system that we all enjoy, and of which Taiwan is an active part.”   MOFA confirmed that senior officials from ten of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies — Tuvalu, the Marshall Islands, Palau, the Kingdom of Eswatini, Guatemala, Saint Lucia, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize, and Paraguay — also voiced support for Taiwan’s inclusion.   Growing Support from Legislatures   Beyond the ICAO assembly, international support for Taiwan’s participation continues to grow. According to MOFA, the U.S. Senate, House of Representatives, and 30 state legislatures, along with nearly 20 national and local parliaments around the world — including those of the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Sweden, Hungary, Spain, Italy, Ireland, Switzerland, Israel, Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay, Guatemala, Saint Christopher and Nevis, and Paraguay — have adopted resolutions, sent letters, or issued statements supporting Taiwan’s inclusion in ICAO.   MOFA expressed appreciation to Taiwan’s diplomatic allies and like-minded countries for their continued support and reiterated its call for Taiwan’s inclusion in the ICAO’s assembly and related meetings, mechanisms, and activities.   Taiwan’s Unjustified Exclusion   Taiwan last attended the ICAO Assembly in 2013 as a guest of the council president, during a period of relatively warmer cross-strait relations. Since then, Beijing has intensified efforts to block Taiwan’s participation in U.N. bodies, including ICAO.   As Taiwan is not a U.N. member state, it remains unjustifiably excluded from ICAO despite its critical role in managing the Taipei Flight Information Region (Taipei FIR), a vital part of the international aviation network that handled more than 1.6 million flights in 2024.   [1] Focus Taiwan [2] Taipei Times [3] Focus Taiwan     Donate to FAPA   If you are interested in learning more about U.S.-Taiwan relations, please feel free to contact us. We are always here to provide the latest information. (202) 547-3686 | 9:00 am – 5:00 pm 552 7th Street, S.E., Washington, DC 20003     If you do not want to receive the updates, please click the button to unsubscribe.    Unsubscribe   Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

[Michael Richardson]

The funding bill might mentionTaiwan 40 times but the ruling regime is still called the Republic of China.  It is the ROC that provokes the PRC.  There will never be resolution of the "Formosa problem" until the Taiwan/Republic of China conundrum is resolved.  John Foster Dulles said it would take force to replace the ROC.  There are two other ways.  Massive Taiwanese protests or USA statehood referendum.  Trump should drop his lust for Greenland and start talking about Taiwan.  It is time to put pressure on the ROC to stop blocking Taiwan's path to the future.

Michael Richardson

--
請隨時 造訪我們的網站 http://groups.google.com/group/i_love_taiwan
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/i_love_taiwan
 
若要退出這群組，請送電子郵件給 i_love_taiwa...@googlegroups.com 標題及本文空白就可.
To unsubscribe from this group, please send email to i_love_taiwa...@googlegroups.com
You can leave Subject and Body blank.
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "i_love_taiwan" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to i_love_taiwa...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/i_love_taiwan/MN2PR03MB5200746379294B198263508195F6A%40MN2PR03MB5200.namprd03.prod.outlook.com.

[Frank S T Hsiao]

HELLO, MICHAEL, SEE MY COMMENTS IN CAPITAL LETTERS BELOW.

 

From: Michael Richardson <richards...@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, October 19, 2025 7:43 PM
To: Frank S T Hsiao <frank...@colorado.edu>
Cc: Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA) <Taiwa...@fapa.org>; 'Frank S T Hsiao' via FAPA-Forum <fapa-...@googlegroups.com>; NATPA-forum <natpa...@googlegroups.com>; i_love_taiwan <i_love...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [iLoveTW] RE: Taiwan This Week: Senate Passes NDAA with Pro-Taiwan Provisions; Calls Grow for Taiwan’s Inclusion in ICAO

 

[External email - use caution]

 

The funding bill might mentionTaiwan 40 times but the ruling regime is still called the Republic of China.  YES, IT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HONNE (TAIWAN) AND TATEMAE (ROC), A WAY TO MAINTAIN THE EQUILIBRIUM TO SOLVE THE CURRENT GEOPOLITICAL CONFLICT AND MAINTAIN BALANCE OF POWERS.

 

It is the ROC that provokes the PRC. NOT AT ALL. YOU ARE WRONG. IT IS THE NAME “TAIWAN” THAT PROVOKES THE PRC. IN FACT, THE NAME “TAIWAN” PROVOKES BOTH PRC AND OLD ROC. FURTHERMORE, ONLY THE NAME TAIWAN CAN TERMINATE THE CONTINUATION OF THE HISTORICAL CONFLICT BETWEEN ROC AND PRC, THE CONFLICT WHICH IS NOTHING TO DO WITH TAIWAN.

IN REALITY, THE ROC NAME ALLOWS ALL THREE PARTIES (TAIPEI, BEIJING, AND WASHINGTON) TO MAINTAIN THEIR PREFERRED TATEMAE POSITIONS WHILE IMPLICITLY ACKNOWLEDGING THE HONNE REALITY OF TAIWAN'S INDEPENDENT SELF-RULE.

There will never be resolution of the "Formosa problem" until the Taiwan/Republic of China conundrum is resolved. THIS IS HARD PROPOSITION.  
AT PRESENT TIME, THE CONFLICT WON'T END SUDDENLY BUT THROUGH A GRADUAL EROSION OR SHIFT OF THE TATEMAE UNTIL THE HONNE BECOMES THE NEW REALITY. THERE ARE TWO PRIMARY SCENARIOS FOR HOW THIS MIGHT RESOLVE: THE "TAIWANIZATION" SCENARIO (THE HONNE WINS GRADUALLY) OR THE "LOSS OF HONNE" SCENARIO (THE TATEMAE IS IMPOSED BY FORCE).

 

John Foster Dulles said it would take force to replace the ROC.  There are two other ways.  Massive Taiwanese protests or USA statehood referendum.  Trump should drop his lust for Greenland and start talking about Taiwan.  It is time to put pressure on the ROC to stop blocking Taiwan's path to the future.

THE RESOLUTION OF THE TATEMAE/HONNE CONFLICT IN THE TAIWAN STRAIT IS FUNDAMENTALLY A RACE BETWEEN TIME AND DEMOCRACY. THE LONGER TAIWAN MAINTAINS ITS STABLE, RESILIENT DEMOCRACY (STRENGTHENING THE HONNE), THE MORE DIFFICULT IT BECOMES FOR THE PRC TO JUSTIFY AGGRESSION, AND THE MORE LIKELY THE DEMOCRATIC HONNE IS TO WIN BY BECOMING THE PERMANENT, ACCEPTED REAL

 

AS FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP, HIS POSITION ON TAIWAN IS NOT CLEAR. BUT HIS DEAL MAKING TACTIC TENDS TO YIELD TO THE STRONG PARTY AT THE EXPENSE OF WEAK PARTY TO COMPLETE THE DEAL. HE APPEARS TO HAVE NO MORAL PRINCIPLE. I HOPE I AM WRONG.

 

Michael Richardson

BY THE WAY, AFTER ALL THE CONUNDRUM, EX-PRESIDENT TSAI STILL HOLDS HER PHD DEGREE!!