S. 4259 — Blue Skies for Taiwan Act of 2026

This section defines terms for purposes of the Act, including (1) "appropriate congressional committees," meaning the Senate Committees on Foreign Relations, Armed Services, Budget, and Appropriations and the House Committees on Foreign Affairs, Armed Services, Budget, and Appropriations; and (2) "Blue UAS," referring to unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) components and systems that comply with the Defense Contract Management Agency’s Blue UAS program and its associated list (i.e., DoD-approved commercial UAS meeting cybersecurity and supply chain risk management standards).

This section states congressional findings concerning (1) Taiwan's importance to U.S. strategic interests and Indo-Pacific stability; (2) PRC gray-zone tactics, including routine UAS use, to pressure Taiwan; (3) U.S. policy under the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 to resist coercion against Taiwan and provide defensive arms; (4) support for Taiwan's asymmetric defense capabilities under the Taiwan Enhanced Resilience Act; (5) cybersecurity and supply chain risks from PRC-sourced UAS components; (6) Taiwan's potential to develop UAS despite competitive and certification challenges; (7) the need for U.S. support of Taiwan's UAS supply chain to bolster asymmetric defense and secure non-PRC components; and (8) opportunities in the Army Organic Industrial Base for UAS testing and sustainment with allies.

This section establishes a Blue UAS working group (i.e., Department of Defense program certifying secure, NDAA-compliant unmanned aircraft systems for government procurement), to be convened by the Secretary of State in coordination with the Secretary of Defense not later than 180 days after enactment of this Act and comprising government, industry, and academic experts. The working group must (1) assess Taiwan’s domestic drone production capacity, including research and development, legal and regulatory frameworks, testing, certification, and production for dual-use drones; (2) evaluate opportunities for U.S.-Taiwan public-private partnerships for co-development and co-production of UAS systems and components, including pilot programs; (3) identify barriers to including Taiwan-manufactured components and systems in Blue UAS programs; (4) identify regulatory, export-control, and certification barriers impeding Taiwan’s participation in Blue UAS programs; (5) provide recommendations to expand Taiwanese suppliers’ incorporation into Blue UAS programs; (6) identify specific UAS components or systems integrable into Blue UAS programs within 12 to 24 months; (7) analyze opportunities and impediments to Taiwan’s inclusion in Replicator programs (i.e., DoD initiative for rapid acquisition of attritable autonomous systems) and similar efforts; and (8) assess collaboration opportunities with the Army Organic Industrial Base for testing, evaluation, production, maintenance, and sustainment of Blue UAS components and systems, including those co-developed or co-produced with Taiwan. Not later than one year after enactment, and annually thereafter for three years, the working group submits to the appropriate congressional committees an unclassified report on its activities—including findings, recommendations, timelines, resource needs, and potential funding mechanisms—with a classified appendix as necessary.

This section directs the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, to establish a cooperative framework—drawing on the Partnership for Indo-Pacific Industrial Resilience (PIPIR)—among the United States, Taiwan, and regional allies and global partners to promote secure, People's Republic of China (PRC)-independent unmanned aerial systems (UAS) supply chains and enhance interoperability. The framework shall include (1) support for regional allies in acquiring Blue UAS (i.e., Department of Defense-approved secure drone) components or systems from Taiwan in lieu of PRC-sourced components, and (2) fast-tracking Blue UAS certification for components co-developed or co-produced by Taiwan and regional allies.

This section directs the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, to develop a fast-track process for Blue UAS companies in Taiwan (i.e., DoD-approved secure drones lacking Chinese components) to obtain Blue UAS certification. The process requires (1) expedited export control reviews and licensing for Taiwanese drone and component manufacturers, including streamlined technical reviews for components with no PRC-connected subcomponents, and (2) a fast-track certification procedure for Taiwanese manufacturers, including reciprocal testing arrangements or recognition of equivalent Taiwanese cybersecurity standards where appropriate.

This section provides that nothing in the Act alters U.S. policy toward Taiwan as codified in the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 or the U.S. government's position on Taiwan's international status.