US House NDAA Includes Up to $1 Billion for Taiwan, Defense Minister Expresses Gratitude

The US House Armed Services Committee released the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2027 today, which includes up to $1 billion in funding for the 'Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative' to assist Taiwan's self-defense. Defense Minister Wellington Koo expressed gratitude for the consistent bipartisan support from the US and its willingness to provide security assistance to strengthen Taiwan's self-defense capabilities. The Legislative Yuan's Finance, Foreign Affairs, and National Defense Committees held a joint meeting today to review the special budget for national security. Minister Koo stated that this is not the first time the US has provided such assistance, noting similar support in 2025 and 2026, and that both sides will discuss how to best utilize these funds. Regarding upcoming live-fire drills, he described them as routine training.