Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
The US Congress is pushing to strengthen support for Taiwan, even as the White House takes a more cautious approach toward Beijing. This year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) expands security cooperation beyond Taiwan to include the broader First Island Chain, calls for a review of delayed arms deliveries and authorizes the pre-positioning of US weapons and munitions in Taiwan. At the same time, Washington continues to delay a major arms package, while new reports question Taiwan’s defense readiness and the future of its semiconductor relationship with the US. Is America’s commitment to Taiwan growing stronger — or becoming more conditional? In this episode, we examine the latest US legislation, the debate over Taiwan’s preparedness and what the evolving relationship means for security across the First Island Chain.
*Recorded on June 18, 2026 at 2pm Taiwan Standard Time
Host: Wen-Ti Sung
Producer: Miguel Yang
Our guests:
Ronan Fu
- Academia Sinica Institute of Political Science Assistant Research Fellow
Adam Ma
- Tamkang University Graduate Institute of International Affairs and Strategic Studies Assistant Professor
Chapters:
00:00:00 – US Senate Passes NDAA
00:01:44 – What Does NDAA Mean for Taiwan?
00:06:18 – US Concerned About Taiwan Readiness
00:14:21 – Taiwan Braces for Possible Tariffs
00:19:58 – Does Taiwan Have Bipartisan Support?
#Taiwan #UnitedStates #USDefenseBill #TaiwanSecurity #USSenate #NDAA #DefenseAuthorization #USTaiwanRelations #TaiwanStrait #MilitaryReadiness #TaiwanDefense #NationalSecurity #USForeignPolicy #China #USChinaRelations #IndoPacific #AsiaPacificSecurity #DefensePolicy #MilitarySpending #DefenseBudget #SecurityCooperation #StrategicDeterrence #PacificDeterrence #CrossStraitTensions #RegionalSecurity #Geopolitics #InternationalRelations #ForeignPolicy #USCongress #BipartisanSupport #BipartisanConsensus #TaiwanMilitary #MilitaryPreparedness #Semiconductors #ChipTariffs #SemiconductorIndustry #TaiwanChips #SupplyChainSecurity #TechGeopolitics #EconomicSecurity #TradePolicy #USTariffs #GlobalTrade #TariffImpact #TechnologyCompetition #StrategicCompetition #DefenseIndustry #IndoPacificStrategy #USPolitics #GlobalSecurity #RegionalStability #StrategicPartnership #SecurityAssistance #MilitaryFunding #DefenseCooperation #TaiwanPlus #TaiwanTalks
The US Congress is pushing to strengthen support for Taiwan, even as the White House takes a more cautious approach toward Beijing. This year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) expands security cooperation beyond Taiwan to include the broader First Island Chain, calls for a review of delayed arms deliveries and authorizes the pre-positioning of US weapons and munitions in Taiwan. At the same time, Washington continues to delay a major arms package, while new reports question Taiwan’s defense readiness and the future of its semiconductor relationship with the US. Is America’s commitment to Taiwan growing stronger — or becoming more conditional? In this episode, we examine the latest US legislation, the debate over Taiwan’s preparedness and what the evolving relationship means for security across the First Island Chain.
*Recorded on June 18, 2026 at 2pm Taiwan Standard Time
Host: Wen-Ti Sung
Producer: Miguel Yang
Our guests:
Ronan Fu
- Academia Sinica Institute of Political Science Assistant Research Fellow
Adam Ma
- Tamkang University Graduate Institute of International Affairs and Strategic Studies Assistant Professor
Chapters:
00:00:00 – US Senate Passes NDAA
00:01:44 – What Does NDAA Mean for Taiwan?
00:06:18 – US Concerned About Taiwan Readiness
00:14:21 – Taiwan Braces for Possible Tariffs
00:19:58 – Does Taiwan Have Bipartisan Support?
#Taiwan #UnitedStates #USDefenseBill #TaiwanSecurity #USSenate #NDAA #DefenseAuthorization #USTaiwanRelations #TaiwanStrait #MilitaryReadiness #TaiwanDefense #NationalSecurity #USForeignPolicy #China #USChinaRelations #IndoPacific #AsiaPacificSecurity #DefensePolicy #MilitarySpending #DefenseBudget #SecurityCooperation #StrategicDeterrence #PacificDeterrence #CrossStraitTensions #RegionalSecurity #Geopolitics #InternationalRelations #ForeignPolicy #USCongress #BipartisanSupport #BipartisanConsensus #TaiwanMilitary #MilitaryPreparedness #Semiconductors #ChipTariffs #SemiconductorIndustry #TaiwanChips #SupplyChainSecurity #TechGeopolitics #EconomicSecurity #TradePolicy #USTariffs #GlobalTrade #TariffImpact #TechnologyCompetition #StrategicCompetition #DefenseIndustry #IndoPacificStrategy #USPolitics #GlobalSecurity #RegionalStability #StrategicPartnership #SecurityAssistance #MilitaryFunding #DefenseCooperation #TaiwanPlus #TaiwanTalks
