[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