I 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2002 

To foster security in Taiwan, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 1, 2019 

Mr. MCCAUL (for himself, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. YOHO, Mr. SHERMAN, Mr. DIAZBALART, and Mr. CONNOLLY) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

A BILL 

To foster security in Taiwan, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Taiwan Assurance Act 

5 of 2019’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress makes the following findings: 

8 (1) April 10, 2019, marks the 40th anniversary 

9 of the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 (Public Law 

10 96–8). 


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1 (2) Since 1949, the close relationship between 

2 the United States and Taiwan has benefitted both 

3 parties and the broader Indo-Pacific region. 

4 (3) The security of Taiwan and its democracy 

5 are key elements of continued peace and stability of 

6 the greater Indo-Pacific region, which is in the polit7 ical, security, and economic interests of the United 

8 States. 

9 (4) The People’s Republic of China is currently 

10 engaged in a comprehensive military modernization 

11 campaign to enhance the power-projection capabili12 ties of the People’s Liberation Army and its ability 

13 to conduct joint operations, which is shifting the 

14 military balance of power across the Taiwan Strait. 

15 (5) Taiwan and its diplomatic partners continue 

16 to face sustained pressure and coercion from the 

17 People’s Republic of China, which seeks to isolate 

18 Taiwan from the international community. 

19 (6) It is the policy of the United States to rein20 force its commitments to Taiwan under the Taiwan 

21 Relations Act in a manner consistent with the ‘‘Six 

22 Assurances’’ and in accordance with the United 

23 States ‘‘One China’’ policy. 

24 (7) In the Taiwan Travel Act, which became 

25 law on March 16, 2018, Congress observed that the 


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1 ‘‘self-imposed restrictions that the United States 

2 maintains on high-level visits’’ between the United 

3 States and Taiwan have resulted in insufficient 

4 high-level communication. 

5 SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 

6 It is the sense of Congress that— 

7 (1) Taiwan is a vital part of the United States 

8 Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy; 

9 (2) the United States Government— 

10 (A) supports Taiwan’s continued pursuit of 

11 asymmetric capabilities and concepts; and 

12 (B) urges Taiwan to increase its defense 

13 spending in order to fully resource its defense 

14 strategy; and 

15 (3) the United States should conduct regular 

16 sales and transfers of defense articles to Taiwan in 

17 order to enhance its self-defense capabilities, par18 ticularly its efforts to develop and integrate asym19 metric capabilities, including undersea warfare and 

20 air defense capabilities, into its military forces. 

21 SEC. 4. TAIWAN’S INCLUSION IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANI22 ZATIONS. 

23 (a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con24 gress that the People’s Republic of China’s attempts to 

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1 national organizations, has, in many cases, resulted in 

2 Taiwan’s exclusion from such organizations even when 

3 statehood is not a requirement, and that such exclusion— 

4 (1) is detrimental to global health, civilian air 

5 safety, and efforts to counter transnational crime; 

6 (2) negatively impacts the safety and security 

7 of citizens globally; and 

8 (3) negatively impacts the security of Taiwan 

9 and its democracy. 

10 (b) STATEMENT OF POLICY.—It is the policy of the 

11 United States to advocate for Taiwan’s meaningful par12 ticipation in the United Nations, the World Health Assem13 bly, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the 

14 International Criminal Police Organization, and other 

15 international bodies, as appropriate, and to advocate for 

16 Taiwan’s membership in the Food and Agriculture Orga17 nization, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and 

18 Cultural Organization, and other international organiza19 tions for which statehood is not a requirement for mem20 bership. 

21 SEC. 5. REVIEW OF DEPARTMENT OF STATE TAIWAN 

22 GUIDELINES. 

23 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 

24 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State 

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1 ance that governs relations with Taiwan, including the 

2 periodic memorandum entitled ‘‘Guidelines on Relations 

3 with Taiwan’’ and related documents, and reissue such 

4 guidance to executive branch departments and agencies. 

5 (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con6 gress that the Department of State’s guidance regarding 

7 relations with Taiwan— 

8 (1) should be crafted with the intent to deepen 

9 and expand United States-Taiwan relations, and be 

10 based on the value, merits, and importance of the 

11 United States-Taiwan relationship; 

12 (2) should be crafted giving due consideration 

13 to the fact that Taiwan is governed by a representa14 tive democratic government that is peacefully con15 stituted through free and fair elections that reflect 

16 the will of the people of Taiwan, and that Taiwan 

17 is a free and open society that respects universal 

18 human rights and democratic values; and 

19 (3) should ensure that the conduct of relations 

20 with Taiwan reflects the longstanding, comprehen21 sive, and values-based relationship the United States 

22 shares with Taiwan, and contribute to the peaceful 

23 resolution of cross-Strait issues. 

24 (c) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.—Not later than 

25 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 


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1 Secretary of State shall submit to the Committee on For2 eign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on For3 eign Affairs of the House of Representatives a report that 

4 includes a description of— 

5 (1) the results of the review pursuant to sub6 section (a) of the Department of State’s guidance on 

7 relations with Taiwan, including a copy of the re8 issued ‘‘Guidelines of Relations with Taiwan’’ memo9 randum; and 

10 (2) the implementation of the Taiwan Travel 

11 Act (Public Law 115–135) and any changes to guid12 ance on relations with Taiwan that are the result of 

13 such implementation. 

Æ 


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