00:00Taiwan's military could receive up to a one billion U.S. dollar boost.
00:05That's after U.S. President Donald Trump signed the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act on Thursday.
00:11This military aid falls under the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative.
00:16It lays out U.S.-Taiwan military training programs and covers medical care.
00:21It also supports U.S.-Taiwan cooperation on unmanned systems
00:24and expands training between the U.S. and Taiwan's Coast Guards.
00:28Programs meant to strengthen Taiwan's security and deterrence.
00:32But Trump has raised concerns about several of the bill's provisions.
00:36The bill asked the U.S. Defense Secretary to launch a joint program
00:40for drone and counter-drone development with Taiwan by March 1, 2026.
00:45Trump said the provision seeks to detay the U.S. position on foreign military and diplomatic affairs.
00:51And as president, he will have the right to withhold information considered harmful.
00:54Experts say that as China rapidly expands its military,
00:59whether the cooperation on drones will reach Taiwan in time remains an open question.
01:04The bill also asked the U.S. government to provide evidence of the financial assets
01:31owned by the leaders of the Chinese Communist Party,
01:34aiming to identify the sources of their wealth.
01:37The bill's signing comes the day after the U.S. announced a new military deal with Taiwan
01:42that is worth over $10 billion U.S. underscoring continued cooperation between the two sides.
01:49Fu Wahong and NL in Taipei for Taiwan Plus.
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