Senate Foreign Relations Committee passes the bipartisan TAIPEI Act authored by Sens. Coons, Gardner

Statement

Today the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations unanimously passed the Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative (TAIPEI) Act, authored by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Cory Gardner (R-Colo.). This bipartisan legislation is intended to strengthen Taiwan's standing around the world and comes in response to increased Chinese pressure and bullying tactics intended to restrict Taiwan's international space and global diplomatic recognition.

"Taiwan's democracy and free market economy are inspiring," said Senator Coons. "In my visit to Taipei in April, I saw firsthand how Taiwan is a success story that deserves to be celebrated. I am proud to work with Senator Gardner and other members of the Foreign Relations Committee to support this important legislation to preserve Taiwan's international space."

"The United States should use every tool to support Taiwan's standing on the international stage," said Senator Gardner. "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."

The TAIPEI Act requires a U.S. strategy to engage with governments around the world to support Taiwan's diplomatic recognition or to strengthen unofficial ties with Taiwan, calls on the State Department to exercise a range of diplomatic and assistance options with regard to any government that takes adverse actions with regard to Taiwan, and articulates a clear US policy to support Taiwan's participation in appropriate international organizations. The bill also calls on the Administration to immediately begin negotiations on a U.S.--Taiwan Free Trade Agreement.

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