[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 88 (Monday, May 11, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2345-S2347]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   DIRECTING THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO DEVELOP A STRATEGY TO REGAIN 
      OBSERVER STATUS FOR TAIWAN IN THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 100, S. 249.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 249) to direct the Secretary of State to develop 
     a strategy to regain observer status for Taiwan in the World 
     Health Organization, and for other purposes.

  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. PARTICIPATION OF TAIWAN IN THE WORLD HEALTH 
                   ORGANIZATION.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized 
     agency of the United Nations, charged with coordinating 
     health efforts within the United Nations system. The World 
     Health Assembly (WHA) is the decision-making body of the WHO, 
     which convenes annually in May to set the policies and 
     priorities of the organization. Statehood is not a 
     requirement for attendance at the WHA, and numerous 
     observers, including non-members and non-governmental 
     organizations, attended the most recent WHA in May 2018.
       (2) Taiwan began seeking to participate in the WHO as an 
     observer in 1997. In 2009, with strong support from 
     successive United States Administrations, Congress, and like-
     minded WHO Member States, and during a period of improved 
     Cross-Strait relations, Taiwan received an invitation to 
     attend the WHA as an observer under the name ``Chinese 
     Taipei''. Taiwan received the same invitation each year until 
     2016, when following the election of President Tsai-Ing Wen 
     of the Democratic Progressive Party, Taiwan's engagement in 
     the international community began facing increased resistance 
     from the People's Republic of China (PRC). Taiwan's 
     invitation to the 2016 WHA was received late and included new 
     language conditioning Taiwan's participation on the PRC's 
     ``one China principle''. In 2017 and 2018, Taiwan did not 
     receive an invitation to the WHA.
       (3) Taiwan remains a model contributor to world health, 
     having provided financial and technical assistance to respond 
     to numerous global health challenges. Taiwan has invested 
     over $6,000,000,000 in international medical and humanitarian 
     aid efforts impacting over 80 countries since 1996. In 2014, 
     Taiwan responded to the Ebola crisis by donating $1,000,000 
     and providing 100,000 sets of personal protective equipment. 
     Through the Global Cooperation and Training Framework, the 
     United States and Taiwan have jointly conducted training 
     programs for experts to combat MERS, Dengue Fever, and Zika. 
     These diseases know no borders, and Taiwan's needless 
     exclusion from

[[Page S2346]]

     global health cooperation increases the dangers presented by 
     global pandemics.
       (4) Taiwan's international engagement has faced increased 
     resistance from the PRC. Taiwan was not invited to the 2016 
     Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization 
     (ICAO), despite participating as a guest at the 
     organization's prior summit in 2013. Taiwan's requests to 
     participate in the General Assembly of the International 
     Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) have also been 
     rejected. In May 2017, PRC delegates disrupted a meeting of 
     the Kimberley Process on conflict diamonds held in Perth, 
     Australia, until delegates from Taiwan were asked to leave. 
     Since 2016, the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, 
     the Republic of Panama, the Dominican Republic, Burkina Faso, 
     and the Republic of El Salvador have terminated longstanding 
     diplomatic relationships with Taiwan and granted diplomatic 
     recognition to the PRC.
       (5) Congress has established a policy of support for 
     Taiwan's participation in international bodies that address 
     shared transnational challenges, particularly in the WHO. 
     Congress passed H.R. 1794 in the 106th Congress, H.R. 428 in 
     the 107th Congress, and S. 2092 in the 108th Congress to 
     direct the Secretary of State to establish a strategy for, 
     and to report annually to Congress on, efforts to obtain 
     observer status for Taiwan at the WHA. Congress also passed 
     H.R. 1151 in the 113th Congress, directing the Secretary to 
     report on a strategy to gain observer status for Taiwan at 
     the ICAO Assembly, and H.R. 1853 in the 114th Congress, 
     directing the Secretary to report on a strategy to gain 
     observer status for Taiwan at the INTERPOL Assembly. However, 
     since 2016 Taiwan has not received an invitation to attend 
     any of these events as an observer.
       (b) Augmentation of Report Concerning the Participation of 
     Taiwan in the World Health Organization.--
       (1) In general.--Subsection (c) of section 1 of Public Law 
     108-235 (118 Stat. 656) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new paragraph:
       ``(3) An account of the changes and improvements the 
     Secretary of State has made to the United States plan to 
     endorse and obtain observer status for Taiwan at the World 
     Health Assembly, following any annual meetings of the World 
     Health Assembly at which Taiwan did not obtain observer 
     status.''.
       (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) 
     shall take effect and apply beginning with the first report 
     required under subsection (c) of section 1 of Public Law 108-
     235 that is submitted after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act.

     SEC. 2. BRIEFING ON UNITED STATES STRATEGY REGARDING TAIWAN'S 
                   INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter for 
     three years, the Secretary of State shall provide to the 
     appropriate congressional committees a briefing on actions 
     taken by the United States to reaffirm and strengthen 
     Taiwan's official and unofficial diplomatic relationships.
       (b) Elements.--The briefing required by subsection (a) 
     shall include the following elements:
       (1) A description of the actions taken by the United States 
     commencing 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.
       (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.
       (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.
       (c) Appropriate Congressional Committees.--In this section, 
     the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
       (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; and
       (2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives.

     SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ASIA 
                   REASSURANCE INITIATIVE ACT.

       It is the sense of Congress that the full and timely 
     implementation of section 209 of the Asia Reassurance 
     Initiative Act (Public Law 115-409), which reiterates 
     longstanding bipartisan United States policy, is critical to 
     demonstrate United States support for Taiwan.

  Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported 
substitute amendment be withdrawn; that the Inhofe substitute amendment 
at the desk be considered and agreed to; that 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 
withdrawn.
  The amendment (No. 1582) was agreed to, as follows

                [Purpose: In the nature of a substitute]

        Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. PARTICIPATION OF TAIWAN IN THE WORLD HEALTH 
                   ORGANIZATION.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized 
     agency of the United Nations, charged with coordinating 
     health efforts within the United Nations system. The World 
     Health Assembly (WHA) is the decision-making body of the WHO, 
     which convenes annually in May to set the policies and 
     priorities of the organization. Statehood is not a 
     requirement for attendance at the WHA, and numerous 
     observers, including non-members and non-governmental 
     organizations, attended the most recent WHA in May 2018.
       (2) Taiwan began seeking to participate in the WHO as an 
     observer in 1997. In 2009, with strong support from 
     successive United States Administrations, Congress, and like-
     minded WHO Member States, and during a period of improved 
     Cross-Strait relations, Taiwan received an invitation to 
     attend the WHA as an observer under the name ``Chinese 
     Taipei''. Taiwan received the same invitation each year until 
     2016, when following the election of President Tsai-Ing Wen 
     of the Democratic Progressive Party, Taiwan's engagement in 
     the international community began facing increased resistance 
     from the People's Republic of China (PRC). Taiwan's 
     invitation to the 2016 WHA was received late and included new 
     language conditioning Taiwan's participation on the PRC's 
     ``one China principle''. In 2017 and 2018, Taiwan did not 
     receive an invitation to the WHA.
       (3) Taiwan remains a model contributor to world health, 
     having provided financial and technical assistance to respond 
     to numerous global health challenges. Taiwan has invested 
     over $6,000,000,000 in international medical and humanitarian 
     aid efforts impacting over 80 countries since 1996. In 2014, 
     Taiwan responded to the Ebola crisis by donating $1,000,000 
     and providing 100,000 sets of personal protective equipment. 
     Through the Global Cooperation and Training Framework, the 
     United States and Taiwan have jointly conducted training 
     programs for experts to combat MERS, Dengue Fever, and Zika. 
     These diseases know no borders, and Taiwan's needless 
     exclusion from global health cooperation increases the 
     dangers presented by global pandemics.
       (4) Taiwan's international engagement has faced increased 
     resistance from the PRC. Taiwan was not invited to the 2016 
     Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization 
     (ICAO), despite participating as a guest at the 
     organization's prior summit in 2013. Taiwan's requests to 
     participate in the General Assembly of the International 
     Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) have also been 
     rejected. In May 2017, PRC delegates disrupted a meeting of 
     the Kimberley Process on conflict diamonds held in Perth, 
     Australia, until delegates from Taiwan were asked to leave. 
     Since 2016, the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, 
     the Republic of Panama, the Solomon Islands, the Republic of 
     Kiribati, the Dominican Republic, Burkina Faso, and the 
     Republic of El Salvador have terminated longstanding 
     diplomatic relationships with Taiwan and granted diplomatic 
     recognition to the PRC.
       (5) Congress has established a policy of support for 
     Taiwan's participation in international bodies that address 
     shared transnational challenges, particularly in the WHO. 
     Congress passed H.R. 1794 in the 106th Congress, H.R. 428 in 
     the 107th Congress, and S. 2092 in the 108th Congress to 
     direct the Secretary of State to establish a strategy for, 
     and to report annually to Congress on, efforts to obtain 
     observer status for Taiwan at the WHA. Congress also passed 
     H.R. 1151 in the 113th Congress, directing the Secretary to 
     report on a strategy to gain observer status for Taiwan at 
     the ICAO Assembly, and H.R. 1853 in the 114th Congress, 
     directing the Secretary to report on a strategy to gain 
     observer status for Taiwan at the INTERPOL Assembly. However, 
     since 2016 Taiwan has not received an invitation to attend 
     any of these events as an observer.
       (b) Augmentation of Report Concerning the Participation of 
     Taiwan in the World Health Organization.--
       (1) In general.--Subsection (c) of section 1 of Public Law 
     108-235 (118 Stat. 656) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new paragraph:
       ``(3) An account of the changes and improvements the 
     Secretary of State has made to the United States plan to 
     endorse and obtain observer status for Taiwan at the World 
     Health Assembly, following any annual meetings of the World 
     Health Assembly at which Taiwan did not obtain observer 
     status.''.
       (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) 
     shall take effect and apply beginning with the first report 
     required under subsection (c) of section 1 of Public Law 108-
     235 that is submitted after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act.

     SEC. 2. BRIEFING ON UNITED STATES STRATEGY REGARDING TAIWAN'S 
                   INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter for 
     three years, the Secretary of State, or the Secretary's 
     designee, shall provide to the appropriate congressional 
     committees a briefing on actions taken by the United States 
     to reaffirm and strengthen Taiwan's official and unofficial 
     diplomatic relationships.
       (b) Elements.--The briefing required by subsection (a) 
     shall include the following elements:
       (1) A description of the actions taken by the United States 
     commencing May 20, 2016, to consult with governments around 
     the

[[Page S2347]]

     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.
       (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.
       (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.
       (c) Appropriate Congressional Committees.--In this section, 
     the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
       (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; and
       (2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives.

     SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ASIA 
                   REASSURANCE INITIATIVE ACT.

       It is the sense of Congress that the full and timely 
     implementation of section 209 of the Asia Reassurance 
     Initiative Act (Public Law 115-409), which reiterates 
     longstanding bipartisan United States policy, is critical to 
     demonstrate United States support for Taiwan.

  The bill (S. 249), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a 
third reading, was read the third time, and passed.

                          ____________________