Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative (TAIPEI) Act of 2019
This bill requires the Department of State to consult with Congress before decreasing or increasing U.S. government engagement with another nation as a result of that nation's decision to strengthen or undermine ties with Taiwan. (Taiwan is self-governing, but China considers it a renegade province and has taken actions to encourage countries and international organizations to limit or cut off relations with Taiwan.)
The bill states that the U.S. government should support Taiwan in strengthening its relationships with countries around the world.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4754 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
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.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
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.
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.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
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