[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 123 (Thursday, July 17, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4482-S4484]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 2944. Mr. MERKLEY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
by him to the bill S. 2296, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2026 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of title XII, add the following:
Subtitle F--Taiwan Relations Reinforcement Act of 2025
SEC. 1271. SHORT TITLE.
This subtitle may be cited as the ``Taiwan Relations
Reinforcement Act of 2025''.
SEC. 1272. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that the United States
Government should continue strengthening cooperation with
Taiwan under the framework of the Taiwan Relations Act
(Public Law 96-8; 22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.) and the Six
Assurances with consideration of the ongoing military buildup
in China and the imbalance in the security environment in the
Taiwan Strait, including by--
(1) promoting dignity and respect for its Taiwan
counterparts, who represent more than 23,000,000 citizens, by
using the full range of the United States Government's
diplomatic and financial tools to promote Taiwan's inclusion
and meaningful participation in international organizations,
as well as in bilateral and multilateral security
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summits, military exercises, and economic dialogues and
forums;
(2) urging Taiwan to increase its own investments in
military capabilities that support implementation of its
asymmetric defense strategy; and
(3) prioritizing the negotiation of a free-trade agreement
with Taiwan that provides high levels of labor rights and
environmental protection as soon as possible to deepen
economic ties between the United States and Taiwan.
SEC. 1273. INTERAGENCY POLICY COORDINATION ON TAIWAN.
(a) Statement of Policy.--It is the policy of the United
States to create and execute a plan for enhancing its
relationship with Taiwan by strengthening the robust
partnership that meets the challenges of the 21st century
while remaining faithful to United States principles and
values in keeping with the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six
Assurances.
(b) Interagency Taiwan Policy Task Force.--Not later than
90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
President shall review and consolidate existing interagency
processes related to Taiwan (including formal National
Security Council-led processes and other informal, ad-hoc
interagency coordination processes) to create an interagency
Taiwan Policy Task Force consisting of senior officials from
the Office of the President, the National Security Council,
the Department of State, the Department of Defense, the
Department of the Treasury, the Department of Commerce, and
the Office of the United States Trade Representative.
(c) Report.--The interagency Taiwan Policy Task Force
established under subsection (b) shall contribute annually to
existing congressionally mandated reports outlining policy
and actions to be taken in the next year to enhance the
United States partnership and relations with Taiwan,
including reports required under the Taiwan Enhanced
Resilience Act (subtitle A of title XII of Public Law 117-
263), the Taiwan Allies International Protection and
Enhancement Initiative (TAIPEI) Act (Public Law 116-135), and
the Taiwan Travel Act (Public Law 115-135).
SEC. 1274. AMERICAN INSTITUTE IN TAIWAN.
(a) Appointment of Director.--The Director of the American
Institute in Taiwan's Taipei office shall be appointed by the
President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate,
and effective upon enactment of this Act shall have the title
of Representative.
(b) Vacancy.--A vacancy in the position of Director shall
be filled within 60 days. If such position remains unfilled
for more than 60 days, the Assistant Secretary of State for
East Asian and Pacific Affairs, in consultation with the
Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, shall
immediately appoint a senior Foreign Service Officer to serve
as acting Director until a new Director is appointed and
confirmed for such position pursuant to subsection (a).
SEC. 1275. PARTICIPATION OF TAIWAN IN INTERNATIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS.
(a) Statement of Policy.--It is the policy of the United
States to promote Taiwan's inclusion and meaningful
participation in meetings held by international
organizations.
(b) Support for Meaningful Participation.--The Permanent
Representative of the United States to the United Nations and
other relevant United States officials should actively
support Taiwan's meaningful participation in international
organizations, including membership where applicable.
(c) Report.--Beginning not later than one year after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State
shall annually incorporate reporting on China's efforts to
block Taiwan's meaningful participation and inclusion at the
United Nations and other international bodies, and recommend
appropriate responses to be taken by the United States, as
part of existing congressionally mandated reports, including
reports required under the Taiwan Enhanced Resilience Act
(subtitle A of title XII of Public Law 117-263), the Taiwan
Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative
(TAIPEI) Act (Public Law 116-135), and the Taiwan Travel Act
(Public Law 115-135).
SEC. 1276. INVITATION OF TAIWAN COUNTERPARTS TO HIGH-LEVEL
BILATERAL AND MULTILATERAL FORUMS AND
EXERCISES.
It is the policy of the United States--
(1) to invite Taiwan counterparts to participate in high-
level bilateral and multilateral summits, military exercises,
and economic dialogues and forums on issues of mutual
concern;
(2) that the United States Government and Taiwan
counterparts should resume meetings under either the United
States-Taiwan Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, the
United States-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade, or
other appropriate mechanisms to reach a bilateral free trade
agreement;
(3) that the United States Government should invite Taiwan
to participate in bilateral and multilateral military
training exercises; and
(4) that the United States Government and Taiwan
counterparts should engage in a regular and routine strategic
bilateral dialogue on arms sales in accordance with Foreign
Military Sales mechanisms, and the United States Government
should support export licenses for direct commercial sales
supporting Taiwan's indigenous defensive capabilities.
SEC. 1277. PROHIBITIONS AGAINST UNDERMINING UNITED STATES
POLICY REGARDING TAIWAN.
(a) Finding.--Congress finds that the efforts by the
Government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the
Chinese Communist Party to compel private United States
businesses, corporations, and nongovernmental entities to use
PRC-mandated language to describe the relationship between
Taiwan and China are an intolerable attempt to enforce
political censorship globally and should be considered an
attack on the fundamental underpinnings of all democratic and
free societies, including the constitutionally protected
right to freedom of speech.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the President, in coordination with United States businesses
and nongovernmental entities and in consultation with
Congress, should develop and implement a strategy for
interacting with the Government of the People's Republic of
China and the Chinese Communist Party and affiliated
entities, the aim of which is--
(1) to counter PRC sharp power operations, which threaten
free speech, academic freedom, and the normal operations of
United States businesses and nongovernmental entities; and
(2) to counter PRC efforts to censor the way the world
refers to issues deemed sensitive to the Government of the
People's Republic of China and Chinese Communist Party
leaders, including issues related to Taiwan, Tibet, the
Tiananmen Square Massacre, and the mass internment of Uyghurs
and other Turkic Muslims, among many other issues.
(c) Prohibition on Recognition of PRC Claims to Sovereignty
Over Taiwan.--
(1) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(A) issues related to the sovereignty of Taiwan are for the
people of Taiwan to decide through the democratic process
they have established;
(B) the dispute between the People's Republic of China and
Taiwan must be resolved peacefully and with the assent of the
people of Taiwan;
(C) the primary obstacle to peaceful resolution is the
authoritarian nature of the PRC political system under one-
party rule of the Chinese Communist Party, which is
fundamentally incompatible with Taiwan's democracy; and
(D) any attempt to coerce the people of Taiwan to accept a
political arrangement that would subject them to direct or
indirect rule by the PRC, including a ``one country, two
systems'' framework, would constitute a grave challenge to
United States security interests in the region.
(2) Statement of policy.--It is the policy of the United
States to oppose any attempt by the PRC authorities to
unilaterally impose a timetable or deadline for unification
on Taiwan.
(3) Prohibition on recognition of prc claims without assent
of people of taiwan.--No department or agency of the United
States Government should formally or informally recognize PRC
claims to sovereignty over Taiwan without the assent of the
people of Taiwan, as expressed directly through the
democratic process.
(4) Treatment of taiwan government.--
(A) In general.--The Department of State and other United
States Government agencies should treat the democratically
elected Government of Taiwan as the legitimate representative
of the people of Taiwan. Notwithstanding the continued
supporting role of the American Institute in Taiwan in
carrying out United States foreign policy and protecting
United States interests in Taiwan, the United States
Government should not place any restrictions on the ability
of officials of the Department of State and other United
States Government agencies from interacting directly and
routinely with counterparts in the Taiwan government.
(B) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this paragraph shall
be construed as entailing restoration of diplomatic relations
with the Republic of China, which were terminated on January
1, 1979, or altering the United States Government's position
on Taiwan's international status.
(d) Strategy To Protect United States Businesses and
Nongovernmental Entities From Coercion.--
(1) Initial report.--Not later than 90 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in
consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of
the Treasury, and the heads of other relevant Federal
agencies, shall submit an unclassified report, with a
classified annex if necessary, to protect United States
businesses and nongovernmental entities from sharp power
operations, including coercion and threats that lead to
censorship or self-censorship, or which compel compliance
with political or foreign policy positions of the Government
of the People's Republic of China and the Chinese Communist
Party. The strategy shall include the following elements:
(A) Information on efforts by the Government of the
People's Republic of China to censor the websites of United
States airlines, hotels, and other businesses regarding the
relationship between Taiwan and the People's Republic of
China.
(B) Information on efforts by the Government of the
People's Republic of China to target United States
nongovernmental entities through sharp power operations
intended to weaken support for Taiwan.
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(C) Information on United States Government efforts to
counter the threats posed by Chinese state-sponsored
propaganda and disinformation, including information on best
practices, current successes, and existing barriers to
responding to this threat.
(D) Details of any actions undertaken to create a code of
conduct pursuant to subsection (b) and a timetable for
implementation.
(2) Subsequent reporting.--Beginning not later than one
year after submission of the report required under paragraph
(1), the Secretary of State shall include the elements
required in such report as part of existing congressionally
mandated reports, including reports required under the Taiwan
Enhanced Resilience Act (subtitle A of title XII of Public
Law 117-263), the Taiwan Allies International Protection and
Enhancement Initiative (TAIPEI) Act (Public Law 116-135), and
the Taiwan Travel Act (Public Law 115-135).
SEC. 1278. REPORT AND STRATEGY TO SUPPORT TAIWAN'S RESPONSE
TO SHARP POWER OPERATIONS.
(a) Finding.--Taiwan is at the forefront in responding to
sharp power operations supported by the Government of the
People's Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party.
(b) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall--
(1) submit to the appropriate congressional committees a
report on existing United States efforts supporting the
Taiwan government's efforts in countering the Government of
the People's Republic of China and the Chinese Communist
Party's sharp power operations; and
(2) submit to the appropriate congressional committees a
strategy developed in coordination with the heads of relevant
Federal agencies and international partners to identify, and
provide targeted assistance to address, remaining
vulnerabilities in the Taiwan government's efforts to counter
the Government of the People's Republic of China and the
Chinese Communist Party's sharp power operations.
(c) Report Elements.--The report required under subsection
(b)(1) shall describe the response of the United States to
People's Republic of China propaganda and malign foreign
influence campaigns and cyber-intrusions targeting Taiwan,
including the following elements:
(1) A description of assistance in building the capacity of
the Taiwan officials, media entities, and private-sector
entities to document and expose propaganda and malign foreign
influence supported by the Government of the People's
Republic of China, the Chinese Communist Party, or affiliated
entities.
(2) A description of assistance to the Taiwan government's
efforts to develop a whole-of-government strategy to respond
to sharp power operations, including election interference.
(3) A description of exchanges and other technical
assistance the United States has collaborated with Taiwan on
to strengthen Taiwan's legal system's ability to respond to
sharp power operations.
(4) An assessment of the extent to which the Government of
the People's Republic of China and the Chinese Communist
Party have attempted to influence local political parties,
financial institutions, media organizations, and other
entities, and the degree to which these efforts could be
considered successful.
(5) An assessment of the extent to which like-minded
governments have collaborated with the Taiwan government on
ways to address sharp power operations supported by the
Government of the People's Republic of China and the Chinese
Communist Party.
SEC. 1279. REPORT ON DETERRENCE IN THE TAIWAN STRAIT.
(a) Initial Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State and the
Secretary of Defense shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees a joint report that assesses the
military posture of Taiwan and the United States as it
specifically pertains to the deterrence of military conflict
and conflict readiness in the Taiwan Strait. In light of the
changing military balance in the Taiwan Strait, the report
should include analysis of whether current Taiwan and United
States policies sufficiently deter efforts to determine the
future of Taiwan by other than peaceful means.
(b) Subsequent Reporting.--Beginning not later than one
year after submission of the report required under subsection
(a), the Secretary of State shall include the elements
required in such report as part of existing congressionally
mandated reports, including reports required under the Taiwan
Enhanced Resilience Act (subtitle A of title XII of Public
Law 117-263), the Taiwan Allies International Protection and
Enhancement Initiative (TAIPEI) Act (Public Law 116-135), and
the Taiwan Travel Act (Public Law 115-135).
SEC. 1280. DEFINITIONS.
In this subtitle:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means the Committee
on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on
Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.
(2) Sharp power.--The term ``sharp power'' means the
coordinated and often concealed application of
disinformation, media manipulation, economic coercion, cyber-
intrusions, targeted investments, and academic censorship
that is intended--
(A) to corrupt political and nongovernmental institutions
and interfere in democratic elections and encourage self-
censorship of views at odds with those of the Government of
the People's Republic of China or the Chinese Communist
Party; or
(B) to foster attitudes, behavior, decisions, or outcomes
in Taiwan and elsewhere that support the interests of the
Government of the People's Republic of China or the Chinese
Communist Party.
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