[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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