Ricketts Supports Taiwan’s Defense Capabilities, Energy Resilience

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) highlighted his bipartisan Providing Our Regional Companions Upgraded Protection in Nefarious Environments (PORCUPINE) Act.  The PORCUPINE Act would put Taiwan in the NATO-plus category, reducing obstacles for Taiwan to obtain necessary weapons and deter Communist China.

“Over the past several years, Taiwan has made real sacrifices to improve its self-defense,” said Ricketts.  “But even as Taiwan steps up, the United States is failing to deliver key capabilities on the timeline deterrence requires.  Bureaucratic backlogs and sluggish notifications are creating vulnerabilities we cannot afford.  These delays don’t just hurt the timelines — they weaken Taiwan’s political will and ultimately increase the risk to U.S. forces and what they would face if deterrence fails. That’s exactly why I introduced the PORCUPINE Act with Senator Coons.  It would put Taiwan in the NATO-plus category to cut notification times and raise thresholds.”

Senator Ricketts also discussed the Taiwan Energy and Anti-Embargo Act, which aims to resolve Taiwan’s glaring energy insecurities in the face of Communist Chinese aggression.

“Taiwan’s energy security is one of its biggest liabilities,” said Ricketts.  “An energy squeeze doesn’t require a blockade or even a shot fired.  Targeted coercion alone could trigger a crisis long before military action even happens.  That’s why strengthening Taiwan’s resilience is central to deterrence.  Senator Coons and I introduced the Taiwan Energy Security and Anti-Embargo Act to help counter this.  This common-sense legislation would expand U.S. LNG exports to Taiwan to support its energy infrastructure and ensure adequate flows of energy shipments to Taiwan in a contingency.”

Senator Ricketts’ comments were made during a Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearing entitled: “Reviewing Implementation of the Taiwan Enhanced Resilience Act and Future Opportunities for U.S.-Taiwan Cooperation.”  The witness was Dr. Lauren Dickey, former Senior Advisor for Taiwan at the Department of Defense.