U.S. Reps. Young Kim (R-CA) and Michael McCaul (R-TX) on July 1 introduced legislation to track transfers and ensure efficient delivery of U.S. defense equipment sold to Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
“Supporting our vulnerable allies is critical to keeping Americans safe at home and abroad, protecting the free flow of commerce in international trade routes and strengthening our economy and national security,” said Rep. Kim. “We must ensure that America’s word is trusted by allies, feared by our adversaries, and followed by strong, decisive action by our leaders.”
Rep. Kim sponsored the Arms Exports Delivery Solutions Act, H.R. 8259, alongside three original cosponsors, including Rep. McCaul and U.S. Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL), to increase the transparency of ongoing efforts to uphold security agreements and identify solutions to address delivery time lags, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
“Delayed deliveries of congressionally approved sales to Taiwan are undermining our ability to deter an attack from China. This is incredibly concerning as China ramps up its belligerence towards Taiwan,” said Rep. McCaul, the House Foreign Affairs Committee Lead Republican. “I commend Representative Kim for her effort to get to the bottom of this issue and other arms sales to critical regional allies with this important legislation.”
If enacted, H.R. 8259 also would require the U.S. Secretary of Defense and U.S. Secretary of State to issue a report on the list of approved transfer of defense articles to Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand; the estimated start and end dates of delivery for approved and incomplete transfer items; and any changes in delivery dates with explanations for the delays, options for expediting the deliveries, and authorities and powers Congress can use to expedite the deliveries, the bill summary says.
Additionally, the report must include details on ongoing interagency efforts to support the operational capability of delivered systems and a separate description of the actions the State Department is taking to expedite deliveries to Taiwan, the summary states.
“The Arms Exports Delivery Solutions Act ensures that defense equipment already purchased from the U.S. by Taiwan and other allies in the region are tracked and delivered as efficiently as possible as the Chinese Communist Party eyes further aggression,” said Rep. Kim, who serves as Vice Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation. “I will do all I can to ensure the United States remains a leader on the world stage.”