Bills
| 3.23.22

Should the U.S. Enhance its Diplomatic Support of Taiwan? (H.R. 4754)

Do you support or oppose this bill?

What is H.R. 4754?

(Updated April 17, 2021)

This bill — the Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative (TAIPEI) Act of 2019 — would express the sense of Congress that the U.S. government should support Taiwan in strengthening its official diplomatic relationships and unofficial partnerships with countries in both the Indo-Pacific region and the rest of the world. It would also express the sense of Congress that the U.S. government should consider increasing its economic, security and diplomatic engagement with nations that have demonstrably strengthened relations with Taiwan and reducing its engagement with nations that have taken serious or significant actions to undermine Taiwan. 

This bill would direct the Secretary of State to consult with the appropriate congressional committees with respect to proposals to increase or decrease the U.S. government’s economic, security, or diplomatic engagements with other nations as a result of their positions towards Taiwan.

Additionally, this bill would make it U.S. policy to: 

  • Advocate for Taiwan’s membership in all international organizations in which statehood isn’t a requirement, and in which the U.S. is also a participant;
  • Advocate for Taiwan to be granted observer status is other appropriate international organizations;
  • Instruct U.S. government representatives to use America’s voice, vote, and influence to advocate for Taiwan’s membership or observer status in international organizations; and
  • Have the president and/or their designees advocate, as appropriate, for Taiwan’s membership or observer status in all appropriate international organizations or relevant bilateral engagements between the U.S. and the People’s Republic of China (including leader summits and the U.S.-China Comprehensive Economic Dialogue). 

Finally, this bill would express the sense of Congress that the U.S. should engage in bilateral trade negotiations with Taiwan. These negotiations would have the goal of entering into a mutually beneficial free trade agreement that protects U.S. workers and benefits U.S. exporters.

Argument in favor

As one of the world’s leading democracies, the U.S. should support Taiwan as a fellow democratic state. Lending Taiwan diplomatic support is especially important in light of the threat that China’s rise and increasingly aggressive posture in Asia pose to Taiwan’s continued existence and peace.

Argument opposed

Given the fragile state of trade negotiations between the U.S. and China, and China’s aggressive position on Taiwan, now isn’t the time for Congress to aggravate China by passing this bill. While it’s important to support democracies around the world, it’s more important to ensure that the U.S. economy isn’t hurt by the trade war.

Impact

Congress; U.S. foreign policy; U.S.-China relations; U.S.-Taiwan relations; China; Taiwan; and Taiwanese membership and participation in international organizations.

Cost of H.R. 4754

The CBO estimates that implementing this bill would cost less than $500,000 over the 2020-2024 period.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. John Curtis (R-UT) introduced this bill to strengthen Taiwan’s standing around the world and respond to increased Chinese pressure intended to restrict Taiwan’s international space and global diplomatic recognition:

“My time as a missionary for the Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter-day Saints in Taiwan provided a unique understanding of the history and culture in the region. Almost four decades later, I am still committed to advocating on behalf of Taiwan and the Taiwanese people. Our relationship with Taiwan is an important alliance and we must do all we can to empower their democracy and free-market economy. The TAIPEI Act is bipartisan, doesn’t cost the American taxpayer a cent, and it combats Chinese bullying tactics. Win, win, win.”

After this bill unanimously passed the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Curtis said: 

“I am so pleased to see the TAIPEI Act quickly move through the committee. It’s an honor for me to put this bill forward and I hope it’s a very clear message to our friends in Taiwan to say that friendship is reciprocated and that we appreciate their friendship over the many decades. Our relationship with Taiwan is an important alliance and we must do all we can to empower their democracy and free-market economy—I am hopeful that we can soon vote on the House floor in support of this crucial legislation.”

Sen. Cory Garder (R-CO), sponsor of a very similar Senate bill by the same name, says: 

“The United States should use every tool to support Taiwan’s standing on the international stage. This bipartisan legislation demands a whole-of-government approach to ramp up our support for Taiwan, and will send a strong message to nations that there will be consequences for supporting Chinese actions that undermine Taiwan. I applaud the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for advancing this critical bipartisan legislation, and I will continue to advocate on behalf of Taiwan and the Taiwanese people, as guided by United States law.”

Taiwan’s representative office in the U.S. expressed gratitude for this legislation after its Senate version unanimously passed that chamber. In a Facebook post, it said, “Taiwan will continue working closely with the U.S. and other like-minded countries in the region to contribute to peace, stability, and well-being in the Indo-Pacific region.”

The Trump administration views a “strong, prosperous and democratic Taiwan” as part of the rules-based order that the U.S. has a vital interest in upholding. In a recent strategy, the Pentagon expressed commitment to pursuing a strong relationship with Taiwan, particularly in light of Beijing’s pressure campaign against it. 

However, at the same time, President Trump’s position on Taiwan has seemed to vacillate between strongly supporting the Taiwanese regime and wanting to merely use Taiwan as leverage against China on trade and North Korea. In a September 6, 2018 column in the Washington Post, Josh Rogin reported that a “senior administration official” described a dynamic in which “[t]his administration, from a personnel perspective, has the most hawkish Taiwan team ever…But if Xi calls [Donald Trump] and complains, the president’s instinct is to defer to that because there is always some pending issue in which we want something from the Chinese.”

This legislation unanimously passed the House Foreign Affairs Committee with the support of 37 bipartisan House cosponsors, including 25 Republicans and 12 Democrats. Its Senate companion, sponsored by Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO), unanimously passed the Senate with the support of seven bipartisan Senate cosponsors, including five Republicans and two Democrats.  


Of Note: During this bill’s hearing on October 23, 2019, Rep. Curtis noted that China — which views Taiwan as a rogue province — has actively used its growing influence to coerce Taiwan’s diplomatic allies in the Indo-Pacific region to break ties with it. After the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party’s Tsai Ing-wen was elected president of Taiwan in 2016 and subsequently refused to accept the one-China principle, Beijing suspended diplomatic exchanges with Taiwan, staged war games around the island, and poached seven allies away from Taipei. After a September 2019 switch in alliance by the Solomon Islands and Kiribati, Taiwan now has only 15 diplomatic allies, most of which are impoverished countries in the Pacific and Latin America. 

Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO), sponsor of this bill’s Senate companion, says that China’s poaching of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies is a “major threat” to Taiwanese democracy. He argues that if the U.S. doesn’t stand up to China on Taiwan’s behalf, what’s happening in Hong Kong today is a glimpse into Taiwan’s future.


Media:

Summary by Lorelei Yang

(Photo Credit: iStockphoto.com / Niyazz)