II 

Calendar No. 237 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1678 

To express United States support for Taiwan’s diplomatic alliances around 

the world. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 23 (legislative day, MAY 22), 2019 

Mr. GARDNER (for himself, Mr. COONS, Mr. RUBIO, Mr. CORNYN, Mr. 

MENENDEZ, Mr. ROMNEY, and Mr. CRUZ) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 

Reported by Mr. RISCH, with an amendment 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

A BILL 

To express United States support for Taiwan’s diplomatic 

alliances around the world. 

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 Allies Inter5 national Protection and Enhancement Initiative (TAIPEI) 

6 Act of 2019’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH TAIWAN. 

2 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find3 ings: 

4 (1) The Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 (Public 

5 Law 96–8) states that it is the policy of the United 

6 States ‘‘to preserve and promote extensive, close, 

7 and friendly commercial, cultural, and other rela8 tions between the people of the United States and 

9 the people on Taiwan’’. 

10 (2) The Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 states 

11 that it is the policy of the United States ‘‘to main12 tain the capacity of the United States to resist any 

13 resort to force or other forms of coercion that would 

14 jeopardize the security, or the social or economic 

15 system, of the people on Taiwan’’. 

16 (3) Taiwan is a free, democratic, and pros17 perous nation of 23,000,000 people and an impor18 tant contributor to peace and stability around the 

19 world. 

20 (4) Since the election of President Tsai Ing-wen 

21 as President of Taiwan in 2016, the Government of 

22 the People’s Republic of China has intensified its ef23 forts to pressure Taiwan. 

24 (5) Since 2016, the Gambia, Sao Tome and 

25 Principe, Panama, the Dominican Republic, Burkina 

26 Faso, and El Salvador have severed diplomatic relaVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:36 Sep 26, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6401 E:\BILLS\S1678.RS S1678

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1 tions with Taiwan in favor of diplomatic relations 

2 with China. 

3 (6) Taiwan currently maintains full diplomatic 

4 relations with 17 nations around the world. 

5 (7) According to President Tsai Ing-wen, the 

6 severance of diplomatic ties is ‘‘part of a series of 

7 diplomatic and military acts of coercion’’. 

8 (8) The Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 

9 2018 (Public Law 115–409) states that— 

10 (A) it is United States policy ‘‘to support 

11 the close economic, political, and security rela12 tionship between Taiwan and the United 

13 States’’; and 

14 (B) the President should— 

15 (i) ‘‘conduct regular transfers of de16 fense articles to Taiwan that are tailored 

17 to meet the existing and likely future 

18 threats from the People’s Republic of 

19 China, including supporting the efforts of 

20 Taiwan to develop and integrate asym21 metric capabilities, as appropriate, includ22 ing mobile, survivable, and cost-effective 

23 capabilities, into its military forces’’; and 


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1 (ii) ‘‘encourage the travel of high-level 

2 United States officials to Taiwan, in ac3 cordance with the Taiwan Travel Act’’. 

4 SEC. 3. REPORT ON UNITED STATES STRATEGY REGARD5 ING TAIWAN’S INTERNATIONAL RECOGNI6 TION. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 

8 date of the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days 

9 thereafter, the Secretary of State or a designee of the Sec10 retary shall submit to the appropriate congressional com11 mittees a report on actions taken by the United States 

12 to reaffirm and strengthen Taiwan’s international alli13 ances around the world. 

14 (b) ELEMENTS.—Each report required by subsection 

15 (a) shall include the following elements: 

16 (1) A description of the actions taken by the 

17 Secretary of State, or designees of the Secretary, ef18 fective May 20, 2016, to consult with governments 

19 around the world, including the governments that 

20 maintain official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, 

21 with the purpose of inducing those governments to 

22 maintain official diplomatic relations with Taiwan or 

23 otherwise strengthen unofficial relations with Tai24 wan. 


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1 (2) An enumeration of specific countries of con2 cern, if any, and a description of the actions taken, 

3 or actions anticipated, by those governments, com4 mencing May 20, 2016, to alter the formal diplo5 matic ties with Taiwan or to otherwise downgrade 

6 official or unofficial relations. 

7 (3) A plan of action to engage with the govern8 ments of the countries identified in paragraphs (1) 

9 and (2) and increase cooperation with respect to 

10 Taiwan. 

11 (c) FORM OF REPORT.—Each report required by sub12 section (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may 

13 include a classified annex. 

14 SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION TO CONSIDER MODIFICATION OF 

15 UNITED STATES DIPLOMATIC PRESENCE 

16 WITH NATIONS TAKING ACTIONS TO UNDER17 MINE TAIWAN. 

18 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State may con19 sider taking such action to modify United States diplo20 matic presence as necessary and appropriate to provide 

21 incentives to countries considering or taking steps to alter 

22 or downgrade official or unofficial ties with Taiwan. 

23 (b) ACTIONS INCLUDED.—Actions described in sub24 section (a) may include— 


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1 (1) supplementing or reducing the appropriate 

2 diplomatic presence in the United States of coun3 tries identified pursuant to section 3 as having 

4 taken, or anticipating, actions to alter formal diplo5 matic ties with Taiwan or otherwise downgrade rela6 tions; and 

7 (2) supplementing or reducing the diplomatic 

8 presence of the United States in those countries. 

9 (c) CONSULTATION.—Not less than 30 days before 

10 taking any action under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 

11 consult with the appropriate congressional committees 

12 with respect to the action. 

13 SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION TO CONSIDER ADJUSTMENT OF 

14 UNITED STATES ASSISTANCE TO NATIONS 

15 TAKING ACTIONS TO UNDERMINE TAIWAN. 

16 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State may con17 sider the expansion, termination, or reduction of United 

18 States foreign assistance to countries identified pursuant 

19 to section 3 as having taken, or anticipating, actions to 

20 alter or downgrade official or unofficial ties with Taiwan 

21 or otherwise downgrade relations. 

22 (b) ASSISTANCE INCLUDED.—Assistance for consid23 eration under subsection (a) may include— 


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1 (1) assistance under chapter 4 of part II of the 

2 Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2346 et 

3 seq.; relating to the Economic Support Fund); 

4 (2) military assistance provided pursuant to 

5 section 23 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 

6 U.S.C. 2763; relating to the Foreign Military Fi7 nancing Program); and 

8 (3) assistance provided under chapter 5 of part 

9 II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 

10 2347 et seq.; relating to international military edu11 cation and training). 

12 (c) CONSULTATION.—Not less than 30 days before 

13 taking any action under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 

14 consult with the appropriate congressional committees 

15 with respect to the action, as well as comply with the noti16 fication procedures applicable to reprogramming pursuant 

17 to section 634A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 

18 (22 U.S.C. 2394–1). 

19 SEC. 6. POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES WITH REGARD TO 

20 TAIWAN’S PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATION21 AL ORGANIZATIONS. 

22 It should be the policy of the United States— 

23 (1) to advocate, as appropriate— 

24 (A) for Taiwan’s membership in all inter25 national organizations in which statehood is not 


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1 a requirement and in which the United States 

2 is also a participant; and 

3 (B) for Taiwan to be granted observer sta4 tus in other appropriate international organiza5 tions; 

6 (2) to instruct, as appropriate, representatives 

7 of the United States Government in all organizations 

8 described in paragraph (1) to use the voice and vote 

9 of the United States to advocate for Taiwan’s mem10 bership or observer status in such organizations; and 

11 (3) for the President or the President’s des12 ignees to advocate, as appropriate, for Taiwan’s 

13 membership or observer status in all organizations 

14 described in paragraph (1) as part of any relevant 

15 bilateral engagements between the United States 

16 and the People’s Republic of China, including leader 

17 summits and the U.S.-China Comprehensive Eco18 nomic Dialogue. 

19 SEC. 7. APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DE20 FINED. 

21 In this Act, the term ‘‘appropriate congressional com22 mittees’’ means— 

23 (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations and 

24 the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and 


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1 (2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 

2 Committee on Appropriations of the House of Rep3 resentatives. 

4 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

5 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Taiwan Allies Inter6 national Protection and Enhancement Initiative (TAIPEI) 

7 Act of 2019’’. 

8 SEC. 2. DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH TAIWAN. 

9 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following findings: 

10 (1) The Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 (Public 

11 Law 96–8) states that it is the policy of the United 

12 States ‘‘to preserve and promote extensive, close, and 

13 friendly commercial, cultural, and other relations be14 tween the people of the United States and the people 

15 on Taiwan’’. 

16 (2) The Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 states that 

17 it is the policy of the United States ‘‘to maintain the 

18 capacity of the United States to resist any resort to 

19 force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize 

20 the security, or the social or economic system, of the 

21 people on Taiwan’’. 

22 (3) Taiwan is a free, democratic, and prosperous 

23 nation of 23,000,000 people and an important con24 tributor to peace and stability around the world. 


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1 (4) Since the election of President Tsai Ing-wen 

2 as President of Taiwan in 2016, the Government of 

3 the People’s Republic of China has intensified its ef4 forts to pressure Taiwan. 

5 (5) Since 2016, the Gambia, Sao Tome and 

6 Principe, Panama, the Dominican Republic, Burkina 

7 Faso, El Salvador, the Solomon Islands, and Kiribati 

8 have severed diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 

9 favor of diplomatic relations with China. 

10 (6) Taiwan currently maintains full diplomatic 

11 relations with 15 nations around the world. 

12 (7) Taiwan’s unofficial relations with the United 

13 States, Australia, India, Japan, and other countries 

14 are of significant benefit in strengthening Taiwan’s 

15 economy and preserving its international space. 

16 (8) According to President Tsai Ing-wen, the sev17 erance of diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favor of 

18 diplomatic relations with China is ‘‘part of a series 

19 of diplomatic and military acts of coercion’’ by 

20 China. 

21 (9) The Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018 

22 (Public Law 115–409) states that— 

23 (A) it is United States policy ‘‘to support 

24 the close economic, political, and security relaVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:36 Sep 26, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\S1678.RS S1678

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1 tionship between Taiwan and the United 

2 States’’; and 

3 (B) the President should— 

4 (i) ‘‘conduct regular transfers of de5 fense articles to Taiwan that are tailored to 

6 meet the existing and likely future threats 

7 from the People’s Republic of China, includ8 ing supporting the efforts of Taiwan to de9 velop and integrate asymmetric capabilities, 

10 as appropriate, including mobile, surviv11 able, and cost-effective capabilities, into its 

12 military forces’’; and 

13 (ii) ‘‘encourage the travel of high-level 

14 United States officials to Taiwan, in ac15 cordance with the Taiwan Travel Act’’. 

16 SEC. 3. STRENGTHENING OF OFFICIAL OR UNOFFICIAL 

17 TIES WITH TAIWAN. 

18 (a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress 

19 that the United States Government should— 

20 (1) support Taiwan in strengthening its official 

21 diplomatic relationships as well as unofficial partner22 ships with countries in the Indo-Pacific region and 

23 around the world; 

24 (2) consider, in certain cases as appropriate and 

25 in alignment with United States interests, increasing 


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1 its economic, security, and diplomatic engagement 

2 with nations that have demonstrably strengthened, en3 hanced, or upgraded relations with Taiwan; and 

4 (3) consider, in certain cases as appropriate and 

5 in alignment with United States interests, reducing 

6 its economic, security, and diplomatic engagement 

7 with nations that take serious or significant actions 

8 to undermine Taiwan. 

9 (b) CONSULTATION.—Not less than 30 days before in10 creasing or decreasing the United States Government’s eco11 nomic, security, or diplomatic engagement with another na12 tion as a result of an action taken by that nation to either 

13 strengthen or undermine ties with Taiwan, the Secretary 

14 of State shall consult with the appropriate congressional 

15 committees with respect to the proposed United States ac16 tion or actions. 

17 (c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this Act 

18 shall be construed to supersede or otherwise alter obligations 

19 to comply with the notification procedures applicable to re20 programming pursuant to section 634A of the Foreign As21 sistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2394–1). 

22 SEC. 4. POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES WITH REGARD TO 

23 TAIWAN’S PARTICIPATION IN INTER24 NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. 

25 It should be the policy of the United States— 


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1 (1) to advocate, as appropriate— 

2 (A) for Taiwan’s membership in all inter3 national organizations in which statehood is not 

4 a requirement and in which the United States is 

5 also a participant; and 

6 (B) for Taiwan to be granted observer sta7 tus in other appropriate international organiza8 tions; 

9 (2) to instruct, as appropriate, representatives of 

10 the United States Government in all organizations 

11 described in paragraph (1) to use the voice, vote, and 

12 influence of the United States to advocate for Tai13 wan’s membership or observer status in such organi14 zations; and 

15 (3) for the President or the President’s designees 

16 to advocate, as appropriate, for Taiwan’s membership 

17 or observer status in all organizations described in 

18 paragraph (1) as part of any relevant bilateral en19 gagements between the United States and the People’s 

20 Republic of China, including leader summits and the 

21 U.S.-China Comprehensive Economic Dialogue. 

22 SEC. 5. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON TRADE NEGOTIATIONS 

23 WITH TAIWAN. 

24 It is the sense of Congress that the United States should 

25 engage in bilateral trade negotiations with Taiwan, with 


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1 the goal of entering into a free trade agreement that is of 

2 mutual economic benefit and that protects United States 

3 workers and benefits United States exporters. 

4 SEC. 6. APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DE5 FINED. 

6 In this Act, the term ‘‘appropriate congressional com7 mittees’’ means— 

8 (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the 

9 Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and 

10 (2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 

11 Committee on Appropriations of the House of Rep12 resentatives. 


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Calendar No. 237 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1678 

A BILL 

To express United States support for Taiwan’s 

diplomatic alliances around the world. 

SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 

Reported with an amendment 


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