Congressman Sherman and Royce Introduce the Taiwan Naval Support Act

Washington DC – Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA), the second ranking Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Committee, and ranking member of the Subcommittee on Asia, along with Congressman Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced the Taiwan Naval Support Act, legislation that would force the Administration to comply with existing law and send authorized naval defense articles to Taiwan. The bill comes after the Administration has delayed sending two frigates from the United States to Taiwan for nearly two years.

The bill would direct the President to submit a timeframe for the transfer of U.S. naval vessels to Taiwan. Once enacted the bill would give the President 30 days to provide a timeline for the vessel transfer which has stalled since the initial directive was enacted by the Naval Vessel Transfer Act of 2013.

"The Administration ought to recognize the laws and directives passed by Congress to provide Taiwan the military equipment it needs to help secure our shared security objectives," said Congressman Sherman. "The United States should not delay in securing the safety of our democratic allies around the world."

"It is time for the Obama administration to act," said Chairman Royce. "Ensuring the transfer of these frigates to Taiwan is critical to bolstering its defense and ensuring peace in the Taiwan Strait. That's why I led the House in passing naval vessel transfer legislation last year, and visited one of the ships – the USS Gary – in San Diego in June. Our Democratic allies in Taiwan have been waiting for more than a year for these frigates. This important bill will press the administration to make good on our commitment to strengthen the U.S.-Taiwan partnership."

The Sherman-Royce legislation was introduced with the support of Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY), the Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and Congressman Matt Salmon (R-AZ), the Chairman of the Asia Subcommittee.

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