The U.S. National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) “strongly recommends” inviting Taiwan to participate in joint military exercise, while Taiwan’s defense minister said he would not comment before an official announcement is made.

The U.S. Senate has passed its annual NDAA authorizing about US$925 billion in military spending. The bill includes the “Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative,” which allocates US$1 billion in military aid to Taiwan. It also “strongly recommends” that the U.S. Secretary of Defense invite Taiwan’s navy to take part in the RIMPAC (Rim of the Pacific) international maritime warfare exercise when appropriate.

Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) told reporters Tuesday before attending a legislative session that military exchanges and cooperation between Taiwan and the United States are proceeding according to established mechanisms, pending Washington’s final decision.

He said, “As for the recommendations passed by the U.S. Congress, I would like to wait until the government, especially the U.S. government, makes an announcement before we provide any public explanation. Before it is officially announced, we will not comment. As for whether participation in RIMPAC is promising, we will wait for the final decision by the U.S. government.”

Asked about a recent report from South Korean newspaper Dong-A Ilbo claiming Taiwan’s weapons are outdated, Koo said the military is pursuing upgrades based on four pillars — asymmetric capabilities, defense resilience, reserve force enhancement, and gray-zone response. 

Koo added that the prototype submarine Narwhal is progressing well but delivery by November remains “a considerable challenge,” emphasizing that safety and quality will take priority.