House Foreign Affairs Committee Passes PORCUPINE Act 45-0 — Elevates Taiwan to Same Arms-Sale Status as Australia, Israel, Japan; 10 Senators Blast Trump's Summit Ambiguity on Taiwan Defense

In a significant bipartisan counter-signal to President Trump's post-summit arms ambiguity, the US House Foreign Affairs Committee voted 45-0 to pass the PORCUPINE Act, which elevates Taiwan to the same arms-sale legal status as Australia, Israel, and Japan — reducing the congressional notification window for Taiwan arms sales to 15 days and streamlining approval mechanisms. The unanimous vote reflects the depth of bipartisan congressional frustration with Trump's May 15-16 declaration that the $14B PAC-3/NASAMS package was 'in abeyance' as a 'very good negotiating chip with China.' Simultaneously, 10 US senators — including Shaheen, Coons, Murphy, Kaine, and Merkley — issued a joint statement saying they were 'deeply disturbed' by Trump's failure to address Taiwan's defense in the Beijing summit and demanding clarity on the arms package timeline before the HIMARS payment deadline (May 31). Speaker Mike Johnson issued a separate statement reaffirming: 'Our position on Taiwan — they need to stay independent and secure.' House Foreign Affairs ranking member Rep. McCaul compared Xi's Taiwan posture as 'very aggressive' and called for accelerating arms deliveries. The PORCUPINE Act passage, combined with the senatorial statement, represents Congress asserting its oversight role over executive arms policy and sending a counter-signal to Beijing that Trump's transactionalism on Taiwan does not reflect legislative intent. The HIMARS deadline is now 12 days away (May 31); USTR Greer's May 17-18 statement that there is 'no change in American policy' on Taiwan arms, combined with congressional action, provides partial institutional continuity beneath the presidential-level ambiguity.