US Congress ready bill to lease Taiwan weapons in stand off with China

Congressional Republicans are preparing to introduce legislation creating a "lend-lease" military aid program for Taiwan to ward off increased belligerence from Communist China.

The bill, which is the brainchild of House GOP Rep. Michelle Steel and Sen. Marsha Blackburn, is modeled after an early 1940s program that allowed the US government to bolster European Allies without having to directly enter World War II itself.

The bill would authorize the president to lend or lease weapons and military equipment to Taiwan, Fox News reports.

In exchange, the country's government is required to repay the cost of "restoring or replacing" the borrowed weapons over a 12-year time frame.

The bill does stipulate that the White House can opt to renegotiate the repayment sum if it deems the money would take away from the national security of both Taiwan and the US.

The bill is already garnering bipartisan support within Congress. It comes as the communist regime in Beijing has upped its harassment of neighboring Taiwan.

Members of Congress say that the federal government needs to send a strong signal to China that aggression against a US ally will not stand.

Taiwan's official representative to the U.S. told Fox News Digital that it welcomed any help in its fight for freedom.

"We appreciate Congress’ effort to seek creative avenues to strengthen Taiwan’s defense capabilities," said Representative Bi-khim Hsiao. "Taiwan is determined to defend our freedom and democratic way of life, and we will continue to work with the US and like-minded partners to uphold the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait."