Taiwan Assurance Act of 2019

To foster security in Taiwan, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Taiwan Assurance Act of 2019 2. Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) April 10, 2019, marks the 40th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 ( Public Law 96–8 (2) Since 1949, the close relationship between the United States and Taiwan has been of enormous benefit to both parties and to the Indo-Pacific region as a whole. (3) The security of Taiwan and its democracy are key elements for the continued peace and stability of the greater Indo-Pacific region, and a vital national security interest of the United States. (4) The military balance of power across the Taiwan Strait continues to shift in favor of the People’s Republic of China, which is currently engaged in a comprehensive military modernization campaign to enhance the power-projection capabilities of the People’s Liberation Army and its ability to conduct joint operations. (5) Taiwan and its diplomatic partners continue to face sustained pressure and coercion from the Government of the People’s Republic of China to isolate Taiwan from the international community. (6) It is the policy of the United States to reinforce its commitments to Taiwan under the Taiwan Relations Act in a manner consistent with the Six Assurances One China (7) In the Taiwan Travel Act, which became law on March 16, 2018, Congress observed that the self-imposed restrictions that the United States maintains 3. Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that— (1) Taiwan is a vital part of the United States Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy; (2) the United States Government— (A) supports Taiwan’s implementation of its asymmetric defense strategy; and (B) urges Taiwan to increase its defense spending in order to fully resource its defense strategy; (3) the United States should conduct regular transfers of defense articles to Taiwan in order to enhance its self-defense capabilities, particularly its efforts to develop and integrate asymmetric capabilities, including undersea warfare and air defense capabilities, into its military forces; and (4) in 2019, the United State Trade Representative should resume meetings under the United States and Taiwan Trade and Investment Framework Agreement with the goal of reaching a bilateral free trade agreement. 4. Taiwan’s inclusion in international organizations (a) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that the People’s Republic of China’s attempts to exclude Taiwan from international organizations— (1) are detrimental to global health, civilian air safety, and efforts to counter transnational crime; and (2) are a national security concern of the United States. (b) Statement of policy It is the policy of the United States to advocate for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the United Nations, the World Health Assembly, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Criminal Police Organization, and other international bodies as appropriate. 5. Review of Department of State Taiwan guidelines (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall conduct a review of the Department of State’s guidance on diplomatic practice with Taiwan, including the periodic memorandum entitled “Guidelines on Relations with Taiwan” and related documents, and reissue the guidance to executive branch agencies and offices. (b) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that the Department of State’s guidance regarding relations with Taiwan— (1) should be crafted with the intent to deepen and expand United States-Taiwan relations, and be based on the value, merits, and importance of the United States-Taiwan relationship; (2) should acknowledge the reality that Taiwan is governed by a representative democratic government that is peacefully constituted through free and fair elections that reflect the will of the people of Taiwan, and that Taiwan is a free and open society that respects universal human rights and democratic values; and (3) should ensure that any distinctions in diplomatic practice regarding relations with Taiwan must be consistent with the longstanding, comprehensive, strategic, and values-based relationship the United States shares with Taiwan, and contribute to the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues. 6. Enhancing the U.S.-Taiwan defense relationship (a) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that it should be the policy of the Department of Defense to support Taiwan’s asymmetric defense strategy, including the development of Taiwan’s undersea warfare and air defense capabilities. (b) Required Department of Defense actions The Secretary of Defense shall make efforts to include Taiwanese forces in bilateral and multilateral military exercises, as appropriate, to bolster Taiwan’s defense capabilities. (c) Defense attaché The Chief of the Liaison Affairs section at the American Institute in Taiwan shall be a general or flag officer. 7. Reporting requirements Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit a report to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives (1) the results of the President's review of guidance on diplomatic practice with Taiwan, including a copy of the reissued Guidelines of Relations with Taiwan (2) the implementation of the Taiwan Travel Act ( Public Law 115–135

Summary: Taiwan Assurance Act of 2019 This bill directs the President to review the Department of State's guidance on diplomatic practice with Taiwan and to reissue such guidance to the relevant executive branch departments and agencies. It also directs the President to report to Congress on the results of the review and on the implementation of the Taiwan Travel Act, which states that it is U.S. policy to allow and encourage engagement between U.S. and Taiwanese officials. The Department of Defense shall make efforts to include Taiwanese forces in bilateral and multilateral military exercises to bolster Taiwan's defense capabilities. The bill states that Taiwan is an important part of U.S. strategy in the region and urges the United States to conduct regular transfers of defense articles to enhance Taiwan's self-defense capabilities.