A bill to require the Secretary of Defense to seek to engage appropriate officials of Taiwan in a joint program with Taiwan to enable the fielding of uncrewed systems and counter-uncrewed systems capabilities.

This bill (S 3163) requires the U.S. Secretary of Defense, by March 1, 2026, to coordinate with the Secretary of State to establish a joint program with Taiwan’s military officials. The program aims to enable co-development and co-production of uncrewed systems (like drones) and counter-uncrewed systems (to counter drones) for both U.S. and Taiwan forces, operating within the Taiwan Relations Act framework. It mandates annual reports to Congress through 2029 detailing engagement progress, activities, and efforts to finalize key defense trade agreements (e.g., reciprocal procurement, security of supply, and cyber agreements). The bill directly affects the U.S. Department of Defense, Taiwan’s military, and Congress through reporting requirements. It does not authorize funding but outlines procedural steps for collaboration.