[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1678 Reported in Senate (RS)]

<DOC>





                                                       Calendar No. 237
116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1678

  To express United States support for Taiwan's diplomatic alliances 
                           around the world.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                 May 23 (legislative day, May 22), 2019

    Mr. Gardner (for himself, Mr. Coons, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. 
  Menendez, Mr. Romney, and Mr. Cruz) introduced the following bill; 
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

                           September 26, 2019

                Reported by Mr. Risch, with an amendment
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To express United States support for Taiwan's diplomatic alliances 
                           around the world.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    This Act may be cited as the ``Taiwan Allies International 
Protection and Enhancement Initiative (TAIPEI) Act of 2019''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 2. DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH TAIWAN.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following 
findings:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) The Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 (Public Law 
        96-8) states that it is the policy of the United States ``to 
        preserve and promote extensive, close, and friendly commercial, 
        cultural, and other relations between the people of the United 
        States and the people on Taiwan''.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) The Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 states that 
        it is the policy of the United States ``to maintain the 
        capacity of the United States to resist any resort to force or 
        other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security, or 
        the social or economic system, of the people on 
        Taiwan''.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Taiwan is a free, democratic, and prosperous 
        nation of 23,000,000 people and an important contributor to 
        peace and stability around the world.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Since the election of President Tsai Ing-wen 
        as President of Taiwan in 2016, the Government of the People's 
        Republic of China has intensified its efforts to pressure 
        Taiwan.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) Since 2016, the Gambia, Sao Tome and Principe, 
        Panama, the Dominican Republic, Burkina Faso, and El Salvador 
        have severed diplomatic relations with Taiwan in favor of 
        diplomatic relations with China.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) Taiwan currently maintains full diplomatic 
        relations with 17 nations around the world.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (7) According to President Tsai Ing-wen, the 
        severance of diplomatic ties is ``part of a series of 
        diplomatic and military acts of coercion''.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (8) The Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018 
        (Public Law 115-409) states that--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) it is United States policy ``to 
                support the close economic, political, and security 
                relationship between Taiwan and the United States''; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) the President should--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) ``conduct regular transfers of 
                        defense articles to Taiwan that are tailored to 
                        meet the existing and likely future threats 
                        from the People's Republic of China, including 
                        supporting the efforts of Taiwan to develop and 
                        integrate asymmetric capabilities, as 
                        appropriate, including mobile, survivable, and 
                        cost-effective capabilities, into its military 
                        forces''; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) ``encourage the travel of 
                        high-level United States officials to Taiwan, 
                        in accordance with the Taiwan Travel 
                        Act''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 3. REPORT ON UNITED STATES STRATEGY REGARDING TAIWAN'S 
              INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter, the Secretary 
of State or a designee of the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a report on actions taken by the United States 
to reaffirm and strengthen Taiwan's international alliances around the 
world.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Elements.--Each report required by subsection (a) 
shall include the following elements:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) A description of the actions taken by the 
        Secretary of State, or designees of the Secretary, effective 
        May 20, 2016, to consult with governments around the world, 
        including the governments that maintain official diplomatic 
        relations with Taiwan, with the purpose of inducing those 
        governments to maintain official diplomatic relations with 
        Taiwan or otherwise strengthen unofficial relations with 
        Taiwan.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) An enumeration of specific countries of 
        concern, if any, and a description of the actions taken, or 
        actions anticipated, by those governments, commencing May 20, 
        2016, to alter the formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan or to 
        otherwise downgrade official or unofficial relations.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) A plan of action to engage with the 
        governments of the countries identified in paragraphs (1) and 
        (2) and increase cooperation with respect to Taiwan.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Form of Report.--Each report required by subsection 
(a) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a 
classified annex.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION TO CONSIDER MODIFICATION OF UNITED 
              STATES DIPLOMATIC PRESENCE WITH NATIONS TAKING ACTIONS TO 
              UNDERMINE TAIWAN.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--The Secretary of State may consider 
taking such action to modify United States diplomatic presence as 
necessary and appropriate to provide incentives to countries 
considering or taking steps to alter or downgrade official or 
unofficial ties with Taiwan.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Actions Included.--Actions described in subsection (a) 
may include--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) supplementing or reducing the appropriate 
        diplomatic presence in the United States of countries 
        identified pursuant to section 3 as having taken, or 
        anticipating, actions to alter formal diplomatic ties with 
        Taiwan or otherwise downgrade relations; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) supplementing or reducing the diplomatic 
        presence of the United States in those countries.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Consultation.--Not less than 30 days before taking any 
action under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with the 
appropriate congressional committees with respect to the 
action.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION TO CONSIDER ADJUSTMENT OF UNITED STATES 
              ASSISTANCE TO NATIONS TAKING ACTIONS TO UNDERMINE 
              TAIWAN.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--The Secretary of State may consider the 
expansion, termination, or reduction of United States foreign 
assistance to countries identified pursuant to section 3 as having 
taken, or anticipating, actions to alter or downgrade official or 
unofficial ties with Taiwan or otherwise downgrade relations.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Assistance Included.--Assistance for consideration 
under subsection (a) may include--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) assistance under chapter 4 of part II of the 
        Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2346 et seq.; 
        relating to the Economic Support Fund);</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) military assistance provided pursuant to 
        section 23 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2763; 
        relating to the Foreign Military Financing Program); 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) assistance provided under chapter 5 of part II 
        of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2347 et seq.; 
        relating to international military education and 
        training).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Consultation.--Not less than 30 days before taking any 
action under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with the 
appropriate congressional committees with respect to the action, as 
well as comply with the notification procedures applicable to 
reprogramming pursuant to section 634A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 
1961 (22 U.S.C. 2394-1).</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 6. POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES WITH REGARD TO TAIWAN'S 
              PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    It should be the policy of the United States--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) to advocate, as appropriate--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) for Taiwan's membership in all 
                international organizations in which statehood is not a 
                requirement and in which the United States is also a 
                participant; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) for Taiwan to be granted observer 
                status in other appropriate international 
                organizations;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) to instruct, as appropriate, representatives 
        of the United States Government in all organizations described 
        in paragraph (1) to use the voice and vote of the United States 
        to advocate for Taiwan's membership or observer status in such 
        organizations; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) for the President or the President's designees 
        to advocate, as appropriate, for Taiwan's membership or 
        observer status in all organizations described in paragraph (1) 
        as part of any relevant bilateral engagements between the 
        United States and the People's Republic of China, including 
        leader summits and the U.S.-China Comprehensive Economic 
        Dialogue.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 7. APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES 
              DEFINED.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    In this Act, the term ``appropriate congressional 
committees'' means--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the 
        Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 
        Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
        Representatives.</DELETED>

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Taiwan Allies International 
Protection and Enhancement Initiative (TAIPEI) Act of 2019''.

SEC. 2. DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH TAIWAN.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 (Public Law 96-8) 
        states that it is the policy of the United States ``to preserve 
        and promote extensive, close, and friendly commercial, 
        cultural, and other relations between the people of the United 
        States and the people on Taiwan''.
            (2) The Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 states that it is the 
        policy of the United States ``to maintain the capacity of the 
        United States to resist any resort to force or other forms of 
        coercion that would jeopardize the security, or the social or 
        economic system, of the people on Taiwan''.
            (3) Taiwan is a free, democratic, and prosperous nation of 
        23,000,000 people and an important contributor to peace and 
        stability around the world.
            (4) Since the election of President Tsai Ing-wen as 
        President of Taiwan in 2016, the Government of the People's 
        Republic of China has intensified its efforts to pressure 
        Taiwan.
            (5) Since 2016, the Gambia, Sao Tome and Principe, Panama, 
        the Dominican Republic, Burkina Faso, El Salvador, the Solomon 
        Islands, and Kiribati have severed diplomatic relations with 
        Taiwan in favor of diplomatic relations with China.
            (6) Taiwan currently maintains full diplomatic relations 
        with 15 nations around the world.
            (7) Taiwan's unofficial relations with the United States, 
        Australia, India, Japan, and other countries are of significant 
        benefit in strengthening Taiwan's economy and preserving its 
        international space.
            (8) According to President Tsai Ing-wen, the severance of 
        diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favor of diplomatic relations 
        with China is ``part of a series of diplomatic and military 
        acts of coercion'' by China.
            (9) The Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018 (Public Law 
        115-409) states that--
                    (A) it is United States policy ``to support the 
                close economic, political, and security relationship 
                between Taiwan and the United States''; and
                    (B) the President should--
                            (i) ``conduct regular transfers of defense 
                        articles to Taiwan that are tailored to meet 
                        the existing and likely future threats from the 
                        People's Republic of China, including 
                        supporting the efforts of Taiwan to develop and 
                        integrate asymmetric capabilities, as 
                        appropriate, including mobile, survivable, and 
                        cost-effective capabilities, into its military 
                        forces''; and
                            (ii) ``encourage the travel of high-level 
                        United States officials to Taiwan, in 
                        accordance with the Taiwan Travel Act''.

SEC. 3. STRENGTHENING OF OFFICIAL OR UNOFFICIAL TIES WITH TAIWAN.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the United 
States Government should--
            (1) support Taiwan in strengthening its official diplomatic 
        relationships as well as unofficial partnerships with countries 
        in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world;
            (2) consider, in certain cases as appropriate and in 
        alignment with United States interests, increasing its 
        economic, security, and diplomatic engagement with nations that 
        have demonstrably strengthened, enhanced, or upgraded relations 
        with Taiwan; and
            (3) consider, in certain cases as appropriate and in 
        alignment with United States interests, reducing its economic, 
        security, and diplomatic engagement with nations that take 
        serious or significant actions to undermine Taiwan.
    (b) Consultation.--Not less than 30 days before increasing or 
decreasing the United States Government's economic, security, or 
diplomatic engagement with another nation as a result of an action 
taken by that nation to either strengthen or undermine ties with 
Taiwan, the Secretary of State shall consult with the appropriate 
congressional committees with respect to the proposed United States 
action or actions.
    (c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed 
to supersede or otherwise alter obligations to comply with the 
notification procedures applicable to reprogramming pursuant to section 
634A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2394-1).

SEC. 4. POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES WITH REGARD TO TAIWAN'S 
              PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.

    It should be the policy of the United States--
            (1) to advocate, as appropriate--
                    (A) for Taiwan's membership in all international 
                organizations in which statehood is not a requirement 
                and in which the United States is also a participant; 
                and
                    (B) for Taiwan to be granted observer status in 
                other appropriate international organizations;
            (2) to instruct, as appropriate, representatives of the 
        United States Government in all organizations described in 
        paragraph (1) to use the voice, vote, and influence of the 
        United States to advocate for Taiwan's membership or observer 
        status in such organizations; and
            (3) for the President or the President's designees to 
        advocate, as appropriate, for Taiwan's membership or observer 
        status in all organizations described in paragraph (1) as part 
        of any relevant bilateral engagements between the United States 
        and the People's Republic of China, including leader summits 
        and the U.S.-China Comprehensive Economic Dialogue.

SEC. 5. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH TAIWAN.

    It is the sense of Congress that the United States should engage in 
bilateral trade negotiations with Taiwan, with the goal of entering 
into a free trade agreement that is of mutual economic benefit and that 
protects United States workers and benefits United States exporters.

SEC. 6. APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DEFINED.

    In this Act, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
means--
            (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on 
        Appropriations of the Senate; and
            (2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on 
        Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
                                                       Calendar No. 237

116th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                                S. 1678

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

  To express United States support for Taiwan's diplomatic alliances 
                           around the world.

_______________________________________________________________________

                           September 26, 2019

                       Reported with an amendment