Bill Summary
The TAIPEI Act of 2019 is a bill introduced in the United States Congress to express support for Taiwan's diplomatic allies around the world. It is also known as the Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative Act. The bill cites the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, which states the United States' policy to maintain close and friendly relations with Taiwan and to resist any attempts to jeopardize Taiwan's security or economic system. Additionally, the bill highlights Taiwan's free, democratic, and prosperous nation and its contributions to global peace and stability. It also brings attention to the increasing pressure from China on Taiwan, as well as the recent diplomatic ties severed by several countries in favor of China. The bill calls for the United States to support Taiwan in strengthening its official and unofficial relationships with other countries in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world. It also encourages increased economic, security, and diplomatic engagement with nations that have strengthened ties with Taiwan and reducing engagement with those that undermine Taiwan. The bill also urges the United States to advocate for Taiwan's participation in international organizations and calls for bilateral trade negotiations with Taiwan. The appropriate congressional committees have been defined as the Senate Foreign Relations and Appropriations Committees and the House Foreign Affairs and Appropriations Committees.
Possible Impacts
1. For individuals in Taiwan, this legislation could potentially bring about increased support and recognition from the United States government, which could lead to stronger economic and diplomatic ties with other countries.
2. For individuals in the United States, this legislation could result in increased involvement in the political and diplomatic relationships between the US and Taiwan, potentially impacting trade and international relations.
3. For individuals in China, this legislation could be seen as a threat to their own diplomatic efforts and relationships with other countries, and could potentially worsen tensions between China and Taiwan.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4754 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4754
To express United States support for Taiwan's diplomatic alliances
around the world.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 18, 2019
Mr. Curtis (for himself, Mr. McCaul, Mr. Sires, Mr. Diaz-Balart, and
Mr. Gonzalez of Texas) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the
Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined
by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as
fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To express United States support for Taiwan's diplomatic alliances
around the world.
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 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.
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