The U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on Wednesday approved a series of Taiwan-focused bills, led by the Providing Our Regional Companions Upgraded Protections in Nefarious Environments Act—the PORCUPINE Act—aimed at strengthening Taiwan’s military capabilities and deepening defense cooperation with Washington.
The PORCUPINE Act would streamline the U.S. arms sales process to Taiwan by designating Taipei as a “NATO-plus” partner, placing it in a category similar to key American allies such as Japan, South Korea, Australia, and Israel. The change would shorten the congressional notification period for Taiwan-related arms sales from 30 days to 15, expediting certain defense transfers.
In addition to the PORCUPINE Act, the committee approved 17 related bills by voice vote, including the Deter PRC Aggression Against Taiwan Act, the U.S.-Taiwan Partnership in the Americas Act, and the Taiwan International Solidarity Act. Senator Chris Coons, who co-sponsored the PORCUPINE Act with Republican Senator Pete Ricketts, described the session as “the most productive day the committee has had in years.” The measures will next proceed either to bipartisan negotiations or be attached to larger legislative packages to speed their passage.
Focus on Asymmetric Warfare and Defense Innovation
Taiwanese defense officials welcomed the PORCUPINE Act while noting its practical emphasis on asymmetric warfare—systems designed to counter a larger invading force at lower cost and with greater agility.
Lieutenant General Huang Wen-chi, head of the Ministry of National Defense’s Department of Strategic Planning, explained that the shorter notification period is unlikely to dramatically accelerate large, conventional arms purchases, which are often delayed by production timelines or contract negotiations. However, he emphasized that the bill could significantly speed up the acquisition of smaller, rapidly produced systems, such as the Altius-600M attack drone.
Defense Minister Wellington Koo said the legislation reflects Washington’s assessment that peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific—and across the Taiwan Strait—are core U.S. national interests. He also highlighted growing cooperation on defense technology, noting U.S. efforts to decouple critical military supply chains from China, particularly for drones and emerging technologies.
Koo said Taiwan’s Defense Innovation Office has already established direct communication channels with the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). Through this mechanism, Taiwan has begun acquiring prototype systems for field testing, potentially shortening procurement cycles and accelerating deployment of urgently needed defensive capabilities.
Strategic Signal to Beijing
The legislative push comes amid heightened tension in the Taiwan Strait and growing calls in Washington for deterrence-oriented policies to prevent potential aggression by the People’s Republic of China.
By elevating Taiwan’s status in the U.S. defense framework and reducing bureaucratic barriers to arms transfers, the PORCUPINE Act seeks to strengthen Taiwan’s ability to resist coercion and raise the cost of military adventurism in the region.
The bills now await further congressional action, but bipartisan support suggests strong momentum for passage.
