H. Res. 273 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

May 7, 2019. 

Whereas the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) was signed into 

law on April 10, 1979, codifying into law the basis for 

continued commercial, cultural, and other relations between the people of the United States and the people of 

Taiwan, and serving as the foundation to preserve and 

promote continued bilateral bonds; 

Whereas the TRA enshrines the United States commitment 

to make available to Taiwan such defense articles and defense services in such quantity as may be necessary to 

enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability; 

Whereas pursuant to section 1206 of the Foreign Relations 

Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 107– 

228; 22 U.S.C. 2321k note.), Taiwan is to be treated as 

though it were designated a major non-NATO ally for 

transfers of defense articles or defense services; 

Whereas in 1982, President Ronald Reagan further clarified 

the importance and resilience of the United States-Taiwan relationship with the issuance of the Six Assurances; 

Whereas the TRA and the Six Assurances are cornerstones 

of United States policy with respect to Taiwan, as was 
2 

•HRES 273 EH 

reaffirmed by the House of Representatives with the 

adoption of H. Con. Res. 88 in 2016; 

Whereas the TRA and the Six Assurances have been essential 

components in helping to maintain peace, security, and 

stability in the Western Pacific, thereby furthering the 

political, security, and economic interests of the United 

States and Taiwan; 

Whereas the United States and Taiwan have forged ever closer economic and security relations over the last four decades based on their shared commitment to democracy, 

human rights, the rule of law and free market principles, 

and their willingness to partner in efforts to combat global terrorism and to address other global challenges, such 

as those related to the environment, public health, energy 

security, education, women’s empowerment, digital economy, poverty, and natural disasters; 

Whereas the United States-Taiwan partnership has been further strengthened since the 2015 memorandum of understanding establishing the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF), which has allowed the two parties to cohost many workshops on critical topics, including one in December 2018 on humanitarian assistance 

and disaster relief to which ten regional governments sent 

participants; 

Whereas Taiwan has the expertise, willingness, and capability 

to engage in international efforts to mitigate global challenges related to such issues as public health, aviation 

safety, crime, and terrorism, but its participation in such 

efforts has been constrained by conditions imposed by the 

People’s Republic of China (PRC); 
3 

•HRES 273 EH 

Whereas successive Congresses have called upon the executive 

branch to develop strategies to obtain meaningful participation for Taiwan in international organizations, such as 

the World Health Organization (WHO), International 

Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and International 

Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL); 

Whereas the Congress most recently expressed support for 

Taiwan’s participation at the World Health Organization’s World Health Assembly as an observer on January 

22, 2019, with the adoption of H.R. 353 by the House 

of Representatives; 

Whereas communication on bilateral security, cultural, and 

commercial interests would be greatly enhanced with the 

full implementation of the Taiwan Travel Act (Public 

Law 115–135), which became law on March 16, 2018, 

and which states that the United States Government 

‘‘should encourage visits between officials from the 

United States and Taiwan at all levels’’; 

Whereas the United States and Taiwan have built a strong 

economic partnership, with the United States now Taiwan’s third largest trading partner and with Taiwan the 

11th largest trading partner of the United States and a 

key destination for United States agricultural exports; 

Whereas 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 

Whereas successive Congresses have publicly reaffirmed 

United States commitments to Taiwan under the Taiwan 

Relations Act and Six Assurances, including most recently on December 31, 2018, with the enactment into 
4 

•HRES 273 EH 

law of the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–409), which stated among other things 

that— 

(1) it is United States policy ‘‘to support the close 

economic, political, and security relationship between Taiwan and the United States’’; 

(2) ‘‘The President should conduct regular transfers 

of defense articles to Taiwan that are tailored to meet 

the existing and likely 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 

(3) ‘‘The President should encourage the travel of 

high-level United States officials to Taiwan, in accordance with the Taiwan Travel Act.’’: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

(1) reaffirms that the Taiwan Relations Act, together with the Six Assurances, are and will remain cornerstones of United States relations with Taiwan; 

(2) encourages United States officials at all levels 

to travel to meet with their counterparts in Taiwan, and 

for high-level Taiwan officials to enter the United States 

and meet with United States officials, per the Taiwan 

Travel Act; 

(3) reiterates that the President should conduct 

regular transfers of defense articles to Taiwan consistent 

with Taiwan’s national security requirements in accord-
5 

•HRES 273 EH 

ance to prior legislation, including the Asia Reassurance 

Initiative Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–409); 

(4) calls on the Secretary of State to actively engage internationally in support of Taiwan’s meaningful 

participation in international organizations engaged in 

addressing transnational threats and challenges such as 

those related to health, aviation security, and crime and 

terrorism; 

(5) recognizes Taiwan’s partnership in combating 

global terrorism, including as a full partner in the Global 

Coalition to Defeat ISIS, and in addressing other global 

challenges through the Global Cooperation and Training 

Framework (GCTF) and other such initiatives; 

(6) underscores the importance of the close peopleto-people ties cultivated through initiatives such as the 

Fulbright Program, which has supported thousands of 

scholar and grantee exchanges between the United 

States and Taiwan over the past 60 years; and 

(7) acknowledges the important work done by the 

American Institute in Taiwan and the Taipei Economic 
6 

•HRES 273 EH 

and Cultural Representative Office in support of United 

States-Taiwan interests. 

Attest: 

Clerk.