U.S. Passes Act to Support Arms Sales to Taiwan|美參院院會通過國防授權法 支持對台軍售

The United States Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act for the fiscal year 2020, which supports arms sales to Taiwan and states that U.S. Navy warships should continue to pass through the Taiwan Strait periodically. Experts say that the U.S. Navy already does so, so this move has more meaning in the Political arena. Though Beijing has protested as usual, the main thing to observe for, is whether this protest escalates.


The U.S. Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for the fiscal year 2020, which supports arms sales to Taiwan, and recommends the continuation of its Navy vessels to regularly patrol through the Taiwan Strait to demonstrate the freedom of travel of the U.S. and its international partners wherever the International Law permits. Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense expressed their appreciation.

The Ministry expresses its appreciation. Anything that helps the self-defense of the Republic of China, anything that will help to increase the stability of the region optimistically, the Ministry views it optimistically.

If U.S. warships patrol the area regularly, that would also be a promise of safety from the U.S. to Taiwan.

The Senate's version of the NDAA also suggested that Taiwan's medical ships should also participate in the U.S. Navy drills to improve preparations and response actions against disasters. Scholars say, the Taiwan Strait is considered international waters, thus, aside from U.S. warships, other country's warships, such as those of France or Canada, could also pass through. Moreover, it is already a norm that U.S. warships pass through the strait, thus this recommendation stated in the NDAA has more of a political implication than a practical one. How Beijing responds will be a key point.

The more important thing is that whether this mode of operation, and Beijing's protest, is largely deviated from the norm, and whether there's anything that's different or special that we need to be vigilant about.

Alexander Huang said that the NDAA has already required for closer cooperation between the U.S. Department of Defense and Taiwan since 2016. The NDAA for 2020 still needs to pass the House of Representatives, and signed by the president to officially take effect.


美國參議院院會27日通過2020年度國防授權法，支持對台軍售，確保台灣足夠自我防衛能力，還建議美國軍艦應該繼續定期通過台灣海峽，彰顯美國與國際夥伴在國際法允許的任何地方自由飛行、航行的承諾，我國防部表達感謝。

國防部發言人 史順文表示：「國防部對此表達感謝，凡有助於中華民國自我防衛，對於區域的和平、安全、穩定有幫助，國防部都樂觀其成。」

民進黨立委 羅致政表示：「如果美國軍艦在這個地區，常態性巡防的話，也表示美國對台灣的安全承諾。」

參院版國防授權法也提出建議，支持台灣醫療船參與美國相關演習，改善災害應對規畫及準備。學者分析，台灣海峽屬於開放水域，除了美國軍艦、也有法國、加拿大等各國軍艦可能通過，而且美國軍艦通過台海已經是常態作為，寫進法案對美軍有提示性作用，政治意涵大於軍事意義，但後續北京會如何抗議，是觀察重點。

淡江大學國際事務戰略研究所副教授 黃介正表示：「比較要關切的就是說，這一種運作模式，航行模式，以及北京抗議模式，有沒有違常？有沒有跟過去不一樣？有沒有特殊狀況？那這種我們就要警覺。」

黃介正強調，美國國防授權法從2016年度開始，就明確要求美國防部門要跟台灣更緊密合作。而美國2020財政年度國防授權法還要等眾院通過眾院版本，參眾兩院共同討論共同版本表決通過後，經總統簽署後法案才會正式生效。