U.S. House passes US$500 million in Taiwan aid

Washington, July 19 (CNA) The United States House of Representatives on Friday passed the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2026, which includes US$500 million for Taiwan.

The bill, which totals US$831.5 billion in discretionary spending, passed in a 221-209 vote.

According to the bill, the funds for Taiwan will be administered by the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency and will remain available through Sept. 30, 2027, for the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative.

The legislation authorizes the U.S. Secretary of Defense, with the agreement of the U.S. Secretary of State, to use the funds to assist Taiwan in procuring defense articles and services, and military training.

Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene proposed an amendment to remove the US$500 million in Taiwan-related funding from the bill.

Speaking on the House floor, she argued that the amount marked a US$100 million increase from the previous year.

Greene claimed that "increasing foreign aid to Taiwan will only increase their reliance on the United States" and said the U.S., with its US$37 trillion in national debt, could not afford to continue foreign assistance to "other countries."

She also warned against potentially "instigating World War Three with China" and said the United States should focus on its own border before addressing those of other countries, including Taiwan and Ukraine.

Her amendment was rejected in a 421-6 vote following bipartisan opposition.

Speaking against Greene's amendment, Republican Rep. Ken Calvert said the Trump administration had issued a policy statement the day before calling for more aid for Taiwan, recommending US$1 billion.

He said that the proposal could have been considered if the White House Office of Management and Budget had submitted relevant materials on time.

Calvert stated that supporting Taiwan aligns with the core interests of the United States.

"The funding will go a long way to make sure that Taiwan has the resources necessary to help prevent a Chinese invasion," he said.

"That's the position of the Trump administration and that's the position of this bill," he added.

Democratic Rep. Betty McCollum said "Taiwan is threatened by the People's Republic of China" and warned that other nations, including the Philippines, would also be at risk "if Taiwan falls."

"This bill will assist Taiwan in preparing their military, increasing their readiness and their deterrence capabilities," she added.

The committee directed the U.S. Secretary of Defense to submit a funding plan to the House and Senate appropriations committees within 60 days of the law taking effect.

Under U.S. law, the bill must pass the U.S. Senate in the same form before it can be sent to the president for signing.