Washington: The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday approved a fiscal 2027 defense authorization bill, which includes a provision to authorize the Department of Defense to establish a war reserve stockpile program for Taiwan.According to Focus Taiwan, the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2027 (FY27 NDAA) passed by an 18-9 vote and will now proceed to the Senate floor for consideration. A notable feature of the FY27 NDAA for the Indo-Pacific region is the renaming of the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative as the First Island Chain Security Cooperation Initiative, which would also allow the Philippines to receive assistance under the program. The initiative would be extended through 2032.The bill further authorizes the Department of Defense to establish the War Reserve Stockpile program for Taiwan. It mandates a review of the delays in U.S. arms sales to Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, and the Philippines, assessing the impact of these delays on the department's ability to mai ntain a robust denial-based defense across the First Island Chain.The FY27 NDAA addresses various other defense priorities, including the Middle East, unmanned aircraft systems, munitions, and emerging threats and capabilities. Last week, the U.S. House Armed Services Committee approved its version of the fiscal 2027 defense authorization bill, which allocates up to US$1 billion under the TSCI to assist Taiwan in bolstering its self-defense capabilities.The Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative provides funding for medical support, training, and joint development of unmanned systems with the United States, aligning with the Taiwan Relations Act. The House and Senate must reconcile their respective versions of the NDAA and pass a final measure before it can be sent to the president for signature and become law.