China uses drones to pressure Taiwan (Associated Press file photo) The US Senate is pushing a new bill to strengthen Taiwan's drone industry in response to China's growing threat. Senator Jeff Merkley, a Democrat, and Senators Ted Cruz, a Republican, and John Curtis, a Republican, and Andy Kim, a Democrat, have introduced a bill to create a working group that includes the State Department and the Pentagon to assess Taiwan's ability to produce its own drones and to develop a joint US-Taiwan production plan. The bill aims to develop a supply chain that is independent of China and can rely on Taiwan and other US allies. The bill also calls for the US government to establish broader partnerships with Taiwan and other Asian allies to create an independent drone supply chain. Merkely said, "Our bipartisan efforts not only protect our strategic interests and stability in the Indo-Pacific, but also ensure Taiwan has the capability to develop its own drone systems to support its own defense and our national security." It's unclear whether the bill will pass the Senate, but both parties generally support Taiwan. China has increasingly used drones to pressure Taiwan, with reports that China has modified fighter jets to attack drones and has deployed military bases near the Taiwan Strait.