[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 171 (Tuesday, October 29, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6254-S6255]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TAIWAN ALLIES INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION AND ENHANCEMENT INITIATIVE ACT 
                                OF 2019

  Mr. CASSIDY. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 237, S. 1678.

[[Page S6255]]

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1678) to express United States support for 
     Taiwan's diplomatic alliances around the world.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill, 
which had been reported from the Committee on Foreign Relations, with 
an amendment to strike all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu 
thereof the following:

     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.
  Mr. CASSIDY. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
committee-reported substitute amendment be agreed to, the bill, as 
amended, be considered read a third time and passed, and that the 
motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The committee-reported amendment in the nature of a substitute was 
agreed to.
  The bill (S. 1678), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a 
third reading, was read the third time, and passed.

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