[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 25, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H3913-H3915]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TAIWAN INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY ACT

  Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 1176) to amend the Taiwan Allies International Protection and 
Enhancement Initiative (TAIPEI) Act of 2019 to provide that the United 
States, as a member of any international organizations, should oppose 
any attempts by the People's Republic of China to resolve Taiwan's 
status by distorting the decisions, language, policies, or procedures 
of the organization, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1176

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Taiwan International 
     Solidarity Act''.

     SEC. 2. CLARIFICATION REGARDING UNITED NATIONS GENERAL 
                   ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 2758 (XXVI).

       Subsection (a) of section 2 of the Taiwan Allies 
     International Protection and Enhancement Initiative (TAIPEI) 
     Act of 2019 (Public Law 116-135) (relating to diplomatic 
     relations with Taiwan) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new paragraphs:
       ``(10) United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 
     (XXVI) established the representatives of the Government of 
     the People's Republic of China as the only lawful 
     representatives of China to the United Nations. The 
     resolution did not address the issue of representation of 
     Taiwan and its people in the United Nations or any related 
     organizations, nor did the resolution take a position on the 
     relationship between the People's Republic of China and 
     Taiwan or include any statement pertaining to Taiwan's 
     sovereignty.
       ``(11) The United States opposes any initiative that seeks 
     to change Taiwan's status without the consent of the 
     people.''.

     SEC. 3. UNITED STATES ADVOCACY FOR INTERNATIONAL 
                   ORGANIZATIONS TO RESIST THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC 
                   OF CHINA'S EFFORTS TO DISTORT THE ``ONE CHINA'' 
                   POSITION.

       Section 4 of the Taiwan Allies International Protection and 
     Enhancement Initiative (TAIPEI) Act of 2019 (relating to the 
     policy of the United States regarding Taiwan's participation 
     in international organizations) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon at the end;
       (2) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(5) 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 such organizations to resist the 
     People's Republic of China's efforts to distort the 
     decisions, language, policies, or procedures of such 
     organizations regarding Taiwan.''.

     SEC. 4. OPPOSING THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA'S EFFORTS TO 
                   UNDERMINE TAIWAN'S TIES AND PARTNERSHIPS 
                   INTERNATIONALLY.

       Subsection (a) of section 5 of the Taiwan Allies 
     International Protection and Enhancement Initiative (TAIPEI) 
     Act of 2019 (relating to strengthening ties with Taiwan) is 
     amended--
       (1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon at the end;
       (2) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(5) encourage, as appropriate, United States allies and 
     partners to oppose the People's Republic of China's efforts 
     to undermine Taiwan's official diplomatic relationships and 
     its partnerships with countries with which it does not 
     maintain diplomatic relations.''.

     SEC. 5. REPORT ON THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA'S ATTEMPTS 
                   TO PROMOTE ITS ``ONE CHINA'' POSITION.

       (a) In General.--Subsection (b) of section 5 of the Taiwan 
     Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative 
     (TAIPEI) Act of 2019 (relating to strengthening ties with 
     Taiwan) is amended by inserting before the period at the end 
     the following: ``, as well as information relating to any 
     prior or ongoing attempts by the People's Republic of China 
     to undermine Taiwan's membership or observer status in all 
     organizations described in section (4)(1) and Taiwan's ties 
     and relationships with other countries in accordance with 
     subsection (a) of this section''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act 
     and apply beginning with the first report required under 
     subsection (b) of section 5 of the Taiwan Allies 
     International Protection and Enhancement Initiative (TAIPEI) 
     Act of 2019, as amended by subsection (a), that is required 
     after such date.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Kentucky (Mr. Barr) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Kentucky?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, Taiwan, an island of democracy and stability, is a key 
U.S. partner facing an increasingly aggressive Chinese Communist Party. 
Chinese military aggression is the most visible type of coercion 
against Taiwan, but CCP influence is widespread. In almost every 
international organization, the CCP is taking over leadership positions 
and pushing Taiwan aside.
  For far too long, the CCP has employed an insidious strategic 
approach to suppress Taiwan's participation in the international 
community. The Chinese Communist Party has undermined Taiwan and spread 
propaganda about that democracy's ability to participate in 
international organizations. We cannot turn a blind eye to this assault 
on the very institutions we helped build after World War II.
  There is no clearer example of the Chinese Communist Party's 
nefarious tactics than their manipulation of U.N. Resolution 2758. 
Passed in 1971, that resolution recognized the PRC as the U.N. 
representative for China.
  It said nothing about Taiwan's U.N. representation or sovereignty, 
yet the CCP propaganda wrongly claims that this resolution asserts PRC 
representation over Taiwan. Beijing has used it as a weapon to prevent 
Taiwan from participating in international organizations. This 
resolution, which was intended to bring nations together, has instead 
been exploited to isolate Taiwan. We cannot allow this blatant assault 
on freedom to go unchallenged.
  Taiwan is a vibrant and thriving democracy rooted in freedom, pushing 
the envelope on advanced technology like semiconductors. By supporting 
Taiwan's participation in international organizations, we bolster our 
own national security, enhance regional stability, and safeguard the 
interests of the United States and our allies.
  The consequences of Beijing's actions extend far beyond Taiwan's 
borders. The CCP's suffocating grip prevents Taiwan from sharing its 
invaluable expertise in areas such as public health, technology, and 
humanitarian aid.
  For example, Taiwan is not a member of the WHO because of the CCP, 
but it was Taiwan that came forward at the end of 2019 with an early 
warning of COVID-19. Meanwhile, the CCP robbed the world of critical 
time needed to counter the pandemic, causing millions to die around the 
world. This is what happens when the CCP manipulates

[[Page H3914]]

international organizations, and this is what happens when Taiwan is 
excluded from international organizations: Millions die.
  By supporting Taiwan's meaningful participation in international 
organizations, we demonstrate to the CCP that we stand firm in our 
commitment to promoting freedom, democracy, and human rights.
  I thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly), a fellow co-chair 
of the Taiwan Caucus, for introducing this bipartisan bill, of which I 
am a proud original cosponsor.
  H.R. 1176 will send a clear message to the CCP that we will not 
tolerate their attempts to suppress, delegitimize, and coerce Taiwan 
and its people. The Taiwan Relations Act holds that it is United States 
policy to maintain their capacity ``to resist any resort to force or 
other forms of coercion. . . .'' That policy must include the stance we 
are taking today, to resist the Chinese Communist Party's coercive 
tactics at international organizations.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill deserves our unanimous support. I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I echo the gentleman from Kentucky's fervent desire that 
we merit unanimous support for this piece of legislation.
  I rise in support of the Taiwan International Solidarity Act which I 
authored with the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Curtis), my friend, to stand 
up for Taiwan's participation in international organizations against 
the backdrop of an ever-bellicose People's Republic of China.
  Our bill responds to Beijing's aggression by strengthening the TAIPEI 
Act of 2019 to clarify that U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2758 does 
not--does not--preclude the United States from using its vote, voice, 
and influence to resist the reckless campaign against Taiwan's rightful 
place on the world stage.
  The Taiwan International Solidarity Act amends the TAIPEI Act of 
2019, a bill that passed by a unified bipartisan vote of 415-0. It 
instructs the U.S. to use its voice, vote, and influence to resist 
Beijing's efforts to distort the decisions, language, policies, or 
procedures of international organizations regarding Taiwan. It 
encourages the U.S. to work with allies and partners to oppose the 
People's Republic of China's efforts to undermine Taiwan's diplomatic 
relationships and partnerships globally. It expands reporting 
requirements to include information relating to any prior or ongoing 
attempts by the People's Republic of China to undermine Taiwan's 
participation in international organizations as well as its ties and 
relationships with other countries.
  Over the past decade, the People's Republic of China has successfully 
weaponized a distorted interpretation of United Nations General 
Assembly Resolution 2758, which recognized the People's Republic of 
China as China's representative to that body in 1971.
  Since then, it is no secret that the People's Republic of China has 
leveraged its growing influence in the United Nations and international 
organizations to make sure that they could exclude Taiwan's meaningful 
participation in the international arena and preclude its technical and 
scientific expertise, as we saw in the pandemic, from which the world 
can benefit.

  Delegates from Taiwan attended the World Health Assembly as nonvoting 
observers from 2009 to 2016, but in 2016, the PRC successfully bullied 
enough member states to rescind that invitation.
  The denial of Taiwan's participation at the International Civil 
Aviation Organization poses a direct threat to aviation safety, and 
without member status at INTERPOL, Taiwan is denied access to crucial 
information that could be used to fight international criminal activity 
and, I might add, the drug trade we just talked about.
  We face unprecedented health and security threats here in the United 
States and abroad, and Taiwan's distinct capabilities, public health 
expertise, democratic governance, and advanced technology underscore 
the need for this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, the People's Republic of China has made its intentions 
crystal clear:
  They have encroached on the territorial waters and airspace of their 
neighbors.
  They have made ludicrous claims of sovereignty over the entire South 
China Sea.
  They have engaged in, or threatened, kinetic activity on the Indian 
border, the Vietnamese border, and, of course, across the Taiwan 
Strait.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to make clear that any decision by the PRC to 
intimidate, bully, and exclude Taiwan will not be condoned or tolerated 
by the United States of America and certainly not by this Congress.
  The United States, in the spirit of the Taiwan Relations Act, must 
continue to reject any unilateral aggression against Taiwan, including 
within international organizations and bodies.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to heed the advice of the gentleman 
from Kentucky and pass this bill unanimously. I reserve the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Utah 
(Mr. Curtis), the Republican principal sponsor of this bill and author 
of the bill. He is a great friend to the people of Taiwan and a member 
of the Taiwan Caucus.
  Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Taiwan 
International Solidarity Act, which I co-lead with my good friend from 
Virginia (Mr. Connolly).
  This legislation amends the TAIPEI Act, my bill that was signed into 
law in March of 2020, which countered China's poaching of Taiwan's 
allies and China's efforts to exclude Taiwan from international 
organizations.
  I am proud that my bill has greatly strengthened our relationship 
with Taiwan. However, since the bill's signing in 2020, China has 
mounted pressure on international organizations to claim that Taiwan is 
part of China.
  The Taiwan International Solidarity Act expands on the TAIPEI Act to 
further counter China's attempt to use international organizations to 
claim that Taiwan is part of China by distorting the language, 
policies, and procedures of international organizations.
  We all witnessed this in an infamous interview at the height of COVID 
where a reporter asked a representative of the World Health 
Organization a question about Taiwan. The WHO officer initially refused 
to answer and then said: ``Well, we've already talked about China,'' 
implying that Taiwan is part of China.
  It is unacceptable for international institutions, funded largely by 
U.S. taxpayer dollars, to be repeating the CCP narrative.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill.

                              {time}  1645

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Lieu).
  Mr. LIEU. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Representative Connolly, 
for his leadership.
  I am a proud coauthor of the Taiwan International Solidarity Act. 
Taiwan is a critically important partner to the United States, and 
Taiwan has made significant contributions to the international 
community.
  Unfortunately, the actions of the government of the People's Republic 
of China have prevented Taiwan from being a part of important 
international organizations that help not only the United States but 
also helps their international community and helps the PRC.
  For example, the PRC blocks Taiwan from being a part of the 
International Civil Aviation Organization. That is just really stupid 
because there are people from the PRC flying into Taiwan and flying 
out; there are people from the United States flying into Taiwan and 
flying out.
  Why wouldn't you want Taiwan to have safer air travel? You absolutely 
would. The PRC also, unfortunately, blocked Taiwan from being in the 
World Health Assembly. Factually, it turns out that Taiwan got it 
right. Taiwan told the entire world that COVID could be passed through 
human transmission. The PRC lied to the entire world and said that that 
was not true.
  Taiwan got it right and yet, the WHO excludes Taiwan. The WHO should 
be ashamed of themselves and should let Taiwan in.
  Taiwan is also excluded from INTERPOL. Why wouldn't you want Taiwan 
to help with fighting crime and

[[Page H3915]]

terrorism around the world? You absolutely would.
  This bill would require the State Department to report to Congress 
every year on any efforts by the PRC government to undermine Taiwan's 
participation in international organizations.
  It would also require the State Department to report on any PRC 
government effort to undermine Taiwan's relationships with other 
countries. This information we receive will be critical to holding the 
PRC government accountable for any efforts to undermine Taiwan's 
contributions to the international community.
  Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the right to close. I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Again, I thank my friend from Kentucky (Mr. Barr) for his leadership 
and cosponsorship, and my partner, Mr. Curtis, for his enormous effort 
in trying to bring this bill before our committee for markup and to the 
floor.
  Mr. Speaker, acting on this bill is not a nice thing to do to 
recognize an allied partner, but it is actually for practical reasons. 
There are consequences when Taiwan, with independent capability, and 
enormous scientific and technical expertise, cannot participate in 
deliberations about world public health during a pandemic.
  There are consequences when it cannot participate in INTERPOL and 
help us in that fentanyl drug trafficking coming from the big country 
just to its north, China.
  There are consequences when we deny Taiwan its legitimate place and 
voice in international deliberations.
  Mr. Speaker, passing this bill, I hope, will have positive and 
practical consequences. It will remind our friends and allies and our 
adversaries that this Congress believes Taiwan is entitled to its voice 
and its seat at the table in important international organizations that 
are operational and that have consequences, good and bad, for the 
world's population.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I, once again, commend my colleagues, the gentleman from 
Virginia and the gentleman from Utah, for their leadership in 
introducing the Taiwan International Solidarity Act for standing with 
the people of Taiwan.
  Obviously, Taiwan does hold some status in some regional 
organizations, international organizations, and it holds observer or 
other status in several other bodies. But Taiwan cannot participate in 
organizations that are key to transnational issues, such as the World 
Health Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization, or 
INTERPOL, as has been pointed out. China continues to advocate for 
Taiwan's exclusion in these international organizations and blocks 
Taiwan's participation in the United Nations.
  This bill would amend the Taiwan Allies International Protection and 
Enhancement Initiative Act, or the TAIPEI Act of 2019, to reiterate 
that the United States, as a member of any international organization, 
should oppose attempts by the People's Republic of China to resolve 
Taiwan's status by distorting the decisions, language, policies, or 
procedures, of international organizations.
  This bill encourages U.S. allies and partners to oppose the Chinese 
Communist efforts to undermine Taiwan's official diplomatic 
relationships and its partnerships with countries with which it does 
not maintain diplomatic relations.
  The bill adds an additional requirement to report to Congress on the 
PRC's attempts to promote its One China position in undermining 
Taiwan's membership or observer status in international organizations 
and Taiwan's ties and relationships with other countries.
  Mr. Speaker, I traveled to Taipei back in September of last year. 
This was a major topic of discussion, Taiwan's systematic exclusion 
from international organizations, and the coercive actions of the 
Chinese Communist Party in working against Taiwan being a participant 
in the international community. This is wrong.
  The United States needs to stand with the Taiwan people and the 
democracy, that island of democracy and stability. That is why every 
Member of this body should support this important legislation and stand 
for Taiwan's inclusion and constructive participation in international 
organizations.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Barr) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 1176.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________