Former U.S. Senator Dodd visits Taiwan. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen speaks during a meeting with in Taipei. (April 15, 2021)
Members of Congress from both parties introduced the Taiwan International Solidarity Act (TISA) on Monday (April 19) to counter China’s misrepresentation of the language, policies and procedures of international organizations to include Taiwan as part of China.
The bill was introduced by Representative John Curtis (R-UT), House Foreign Affairs Committee Asia Pacific Subcommittee Chairman Ami Bera (D-CA), and the four co-chairs of the House Taiwan Link, Steve Chabot (R-OH), Albio Sires (D-CA), and the House of Representatives. (R-OH), Albio Sires (D-NJ), Gerald Connolly (D-VA), and Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL).
This bill is an amendment to the Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative Act (TAIPEI Act, or Taipei Act). The Taipei Act requires the U.S. executive branch to assist Taiwan in strengthening its diplomatic ties, participating in international organizations, and enhancing the U.S.-Taiwan bilateral economic and trade relationship. The Taiwan International Solidarity Act will serve as a basis to “further counter China’s attempts to use international organizations to distort the language, policies, and procedures of international organizations to claim that Taiwan is part of China.”
The bill says: “The United States opposes any initiative that seeks to change the status of Taiwan without the consent of the people of Taiwan.”
The bill also says: “The United States advocates that international organizations resist efforts by the People’s Republic of China to distort the ‘One China’ position.”
In a statement, Kuang Xiheng said the Taiwan Allies International Safeguards and Enhancement Initiative Act “significantly strengthens our relationship with Taiwan,” but that since signing the bill last year, China has pressured international organizations to claim Taiwan as part of China. “The new bill is in some ways a complement to the Taipei Act to counter these attempts.”
“As a longtime supporter of Taiwan’s participation in international organizations, I have worked to ensure that the voice of the people of Taiwan is heard in these multilateral institutions,” said Schabert, adding that “the People’s Republic of China has long used UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 as a pretext to coerce the international community to support its Taiwan’s false claim of sovereignty and the one-China principle, even though the resolution does not address Taiwan’s status. But this has resulted in Taiwan’s exclusion from international organizations such as the World Health Organization, Interpol and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), creating an unnecessary void in these important mechanisms.”
For his part, Connolly said, “For too long, Beijing has distorted the policies and procedures of the United Nations and related agencies to assert its sovereign claims over Taiwan, often to the detriment of global health and security efforts. This bipartisan bill will ensure that we stand with this vital American partner.”
The United States is one of Taiwan’s key international supporters. Since President Biden’s inauguration, U.S. administration officials have repeatedly expressed support for Taiwan, calling the U.S. commitment to Taiwan “rock-solid.” Biden also met with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga last week, and in a joint statement issued after the meeting, the U.S. and Japan also emphasized the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
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