The U.S. Congress has again supported inviting Taiwan to join the Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) through the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Representative Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, said such an invitation signals to Beijing that not only the United States, but regional partners as well would jointly back Taiwan’s efforts to strengthen its self-defense.

Smith reiterated the point at a recent Atlantic Council forum in Washington, saying RIMPAC’s multinational structure and integrated combat platforms help bolster allied cooperation and demonstrate deterrence. The exercise, led by the United States since 1971, reached an unprecedented scale in 2024 with twenty-nine participating nations. China, however, has not been invited since 2018.

In October, the Senate’s updated NDAA strongly recommended that the Department of Defense invite Taiwan, requiring the Pentagon to provide Congress with an explanation if it decides otherwise. The legislation also encourages joint U.S.-Taiwan weapons development and production, a measure aimed at reinforcing Taiwan’s defense capability while expanding U.S. manufacturing capacity.

Smith said the global security environment is changing rapidly and that U.S. defense acquisition must accelerate to match advances in cybersecurity, unmanned systems, and counter-drone technologies. He warned that lengthy procurement cycles are no longer viable. To address the challenge, the House Armed Services Committee has held multiple hearings with traditional and emerging defense firms, including sessions in Silicon Valley.

According to CNA, Smith said China claims Taiwan is pushing for independence, but he sees no indication that Taipei intends to directly challenge Beijing. He said China amplifies independence sentiment to justify its hardline behavior.

He added that Congress’s stance is not merely unilateral support, but a strategic “alliance signal,” internationalizing the Taiwan Strait issue and warning Beijing that any conflict would involve not just the United States, but a broad coalition of Indo-Pacific partners.