[116th Congress Public Law 135]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 277]]
TAIWAN ALLIES INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION AND ENHANCEMENT INITIATIVE
(TAIPEI) ACT OF 2019
[[Page 134 STAT. 278]]
Public Law 116-135
116th Congress
An Act
To express United States support for Taiwan's diplomatic alliances
around the world. <<NOTE: Mar. 26, 2020 - [S. 1678]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Taiwan Allies
International Protection and Enhancement Initiative (TAIPEI) Act of
2019.>>
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 unique relationship 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--
[[Page 134 STAT. 279]]
(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. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON TRADE AND ECONOMIC RELATIONS WITH
TAIWAN.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the United States and Taiwan have built a strong
economic partnership, with the United States now Taiwan's second
largest trading partner and with Taiwan the 11th largest trading
partner of the United States and a key destination for United
States agricultural exports;
(2) strong United States-Taiwan economic relations have been
a positive factor in stimulating economic growth and job
creation for the people of both the United States and Taiwan;
and
(3) the United States Trade Representative should consult
with Congress on opportunities for further strengthening
bilateral trade and economic relations between the United States
and Taiwan.
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. STRENGTHENING OF TIES WITH TAIWAN.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the United
States Government should--
[[Page 134 STAT. 280]]
(1) support Taiwan in strengthening its official diplomatic
relationships as well as other 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, in alignment
with United States foreign policy interests and in consultation
with Congress, altering its economic, security, and diplomatic
engagement with nations that take serious or significant actions
to undermine the security or prosperity of Taiwan.
(b) <<NOTE: Time period.>> Report.--Not later than 1 year after the
date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for five
years, the Secretary of State shall report to the appropriate
congressional committees on the steps taken in accordance with
subsection (a).
(c) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section,
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on
Appropriations, and the Committee on Finance of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on
Appropriations, and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House
of Representatives.
Approved March 26, 2020.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 1678:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
Vol. 165 (2019):
Oct. 29, considered and passed
Senate.
Vol. 166 (2020):
Mar. 3, 4, considered and passed
House, amended.
Mar. 11, Senate concurred in House
amendment.
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