NDAA26 authorizes $1 billion to bolster Taiwan defense, backs joint military exercises with US forces

Taipei/Photo by Mar-Vic Cagurangan

By Mar-Vic Cagurangan

The National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2026 authorizes $1 billion to bolster Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities to deter China's invasion threats.

Besides funding the U.S. government’s Taiwan security cooperation initiative, the newly passed defense policy measure also authorizes U.S. forces to continue

their joint training with Taiwan and other partner nations to counter the People’s Liberation Army’s “aggression and malign influence.”

The U.S. has been ramping up its involvement in Taiwan’s military training and national exercises over the years amid Chinese President Xi Jinping's repeated call to advance "reunification."

Taiwan expanded its military training this year. In addition to Han Kuang Exercises, the armed forces have added Immediate Readiness Exercises, Integrated Air and Missile Defense, Joint Information and Electronic Warfare, Joint Ground Defense, and Joint Maritime Defense.

“The scenarios of exercises are developed according to various possible actions by the PLA against Taiwan,” according to Taiwan’s national defense strategy released in October.

A source told the Pacific Island Times that dozens of Taiwanese Marines quietly participated in a U.S. military exercise on Guam in September.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command neither confirmed nor denied the joint exercise.

“Consistent with longstanding policy, we do not discuss any engagements with Taiwan,” Lt. Cmdr. Chloe Morgan said in an email on Sept. 24.  “We can confirm that U.S. Marines from the 3d Marine Division’s 4th Marines Regiment conducted training in Guam, demonstrating the U.S. commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

The defense policy bill requires the Pentagon to develop a joint drone program with Taiwan, and the U.S. Coast Guard to develop a plan for increased integrated training opportunities with the Taiwan Coast Guard Administration.

While it maintains its one-China policy, the United States is one of Taiwan’s most important allies by virtue of the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances, which authorize U.S. arms sales to the democratically governed island.

The NDAA articulates the strengthening of the U.S.-Taiwan relations through these agreements.

On Dec. 3, President Donald Trump signed into law the Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act, which requires regular review and updates —"not less than every five years"—on guidelines governing official U.S. interactions with Taiwan.

Taiwan's armed forces expanded their training exercises this year. Photo courtesy of Taiwan Ministry of Defense

In Taipei,  Karen Kuo, spokesman for the Taiwan presidential office, said the entry into force of the Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act "affirms the value of U.S. interaction with Taiwan" and "supports closer Taiwan-U.S. relations."

"Taiwan will continue to maintain close contact with the U.S., deepen our partnerships across many sectors, and serve as a steady force for global prosperity and development," Kuo said in a statement.

"As a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan will work hand in hand with the US and other like-minded countries in the region to ensure peace, prosperity, and stable development in the Indo-Pacific."

Beijing insists Taiwan is a breakaway province and has not ruled out the use of force to bring it under control.

Taiwan's Ministry of Defense last week detected 33 PLA sorties, seven Chinese Army and Navy ships operating around Taiwan. Of the 33 sorties, 23 crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern, and eastern air defense identification zone.

Amid the growing threat, the NDAA extends the Pacific Deterrence Initiative to enhance the U.S. posture in the Indo-Pacific region, authorizing over $2.7 billion for essential military construction projects and expansion of logistics capabilities to ensure U.S. forces' ability to sustain the fight.

It increases funding for innovative new technologies needed to deter the Chinese Communist Party, including hypersonics, AI, autonomous systems,

cyber, mobile micronuclear reactors and high-energy lasers.

Authorizes over $2.7 billion in essential military construction projects

 and expands logistics capabilities in the Indo-Pacific to ensure our forces can sustain the fight.

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