96 S2395 IS: Taiwan Partnership Act U.S. Senate 2021-07-20 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II117th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 2395IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESJuly 20, 2021Mr. Cornyn (for himself, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Young, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Cruz, Ms. Ernst, Mr. Cotton, Mr. Scott of Florida, and Mrs. Hyde-Smith) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed ServicesA BILLTo require an annual feasibility report on cooperation between the National Guard and Taiwan, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Taiwan Partnership Act.

2.

Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that the United States should—(1)continue to support the development of capable, ready, and modern defense forces necessary for Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability by increasing exchanges between senior defense officials and general officers of the United States and Taiwan at the strategic, policy, and functional levels, consistent with the Taiwan Travel Act (Public Law 115–135; 132 Stat. 341), especially for the purposes of—(A)improving the interoperability of the military forces of the United States and Taiwan; (B)improving the reserve force of Taiwan; and(C)expanding cooperation in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief;(2)expand and strengthen Taiwan’s capability to conduct security activities, including traditional activities of the combatant commands, cooperation with the National Guard, and through multilateral activities; and(3)using appropriate authorities and consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act (Public Law 96–8; 22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.), seek to develop a partnership between the National Guard and Taiwan as a means of maintaining a sufficient self-defense capability.

3.

Annual feasibility report on cooperation between the National Guard and Taiwan

(a)

In general

Not later than February 15, 2022, an annually thereafter, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees (as defined in section 101 of title 10, United States Code) a report on the feasibility and advisability of enhanced cooperation between the National Guard and Taiwan. (b)

Elements

Each report required by subsection (a) shall include the following: (1)A description of the cooperation between the National Guard and Taiwan during the preceding calendar year, including mutual visits, exercises, training, and equipment opportunities.(2)An evaluation of the feasibility of enhancing cooperation between the National Guard and Taiwan on a range of activities, including—(A)disaster and emergency response;(B)cyber defense and communications security;(C)military medical cooperation;(D)Mandarin-language education and cultural exchange; and(E)programs for National Guard advisors to assist in training the reserve components of the military forces of Taiwan.(3)Recommendations to enhance such cooperation and improve interoperability, including through familiarization visits, cooperative training and exercises, and co-deployments.(4)Any other matter the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate.