The U.S. Senate Foreign Affairs Committee passed the Strategic Competition Act of 2021, a bill co-sponsored by Democratic Senator Menendez (right) and Republican Ranking Member Risch (left).
The U.S. Senate Foreign Affairs Committee passed the cross-party proposal, the Strategic Competition Act of 2021, which includes a reaffirmation of the U.S. commitment to Taiwan and support for Taiwan to improve its self-defense capabilities and deter the Chinese Communist Party from advancing by force. Analysts believe that the bill clearly states that “Taiwan is an important part of the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy” and that it is in the U.S. interest to protect Taiwan’s security.
The U.S. Senate Foreign Affairs Committee passed the Strategic Competition Act of 2021, co-sponsored by Democratic Senator Robert Menendez and Republican Congressman Jim Risch, which is 280 pages long and divided into five major sections. The bill begins by stating that the Chinese Communist Party has apparently chosen to pursue a state-led mercantilist policy of increasingly authoritarian domestic governance and aggressive foreign policy through increased restrictions on individual freedoms. In response to China’s strategic decisions, the United States has had to revisit and revise its strategy vis-à-vis the PRC to preserve U.S. global leadership and to maintain a free and open international order.
In the area of Indo-Pacific strategy, the United States recognizes that the reunification of Taiwan is a key step for the Chinese Communist Party to achieve its regional hegemonic ambitions, especially with the current strong implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Act, which may accelerate the timetable for actions against Taiwan after Beijing’s complete takeover of Hong Kong, making the defense of Taiwan even more urgent and important. The bill emphasizes that the U.S. should strengthen the Indo-Pacific Regional Security Partnership, and in addition to supporting Japan’s development of long-range firepower, it is also critical to accelerate Taiwan’s acquisition of asymmetric defense capabilities. U.S. foreign policy should focus on the Indo-Pacific region and prioritize the allocation of resources to achieve U.S. political and military objectives in the Indo-Pacific.
Taiwan Foreign Ministry spokesman Ou Jiang’an responds to the U.S. Senate’s passage of the Strategic Competition Act of 2021. (RFA file photo)
Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Ou Jiang’an responded at a regular press conference on the 22nd that the bill includes support for Taiwan’s international engagement, assistance in responding to sharp power attacks by the Chinese Communist Party, and improved treatment of the ROC government. The bill also incorporates a number of Taiwan-friendly bills under consideration by the U.S. Congress, including the Reassurance On Commitments Act of 2021 (ROC Act), which requires that no ROC government representatives or military personnel be restricted from displaying the flag or military insignia as a symbol of sovereignty in the performance of their official duties. Content.
Ou Jiang’an: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs appreciates that the U.S. Congress has long been actively promoting the deepening of U.S.-Taiwan relations through legislation and other means, demonstrating the strong and unanimous support of the U.S. Congress for Taiwan regardless of party affiliation. The deepening of U.S.-Taiwan relations in recent years has been evident to all, and the Biden Administration has continued to take concrete actions to demonstrate the importance of and support for U.S.-Taiwan relations since taking office. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to monitor the subsequent consideration of the bill and maintain close contact with our friends in the U.S. Congress and the Executive Branch to continue to deepen the all-around partnership between Taiwan and the United States.”
Taiwan’s Strategic Position Elevated in U.S. Eyes
DPP legislator Wang Dingyu interpreted the bill and Taiwan-related parts pointed out that in digital cooperation, the bill specifically mentioned that the U.S. government should sign a digital cooperation-related bill with the European Union, the Five Eyes Alliance member countries, Japan and Taiwan, treating them as reliable and trustworthy digital technology cooperation objects. From this, we can see that Taiwan’s current strategic position, diplomatic relations and trust in the United States are comparable to those of Japan and the Five Eyes Alliance, which is a very positive and important provision indicating that Taiwan is trusted and its international status is elevated.
Wang Dingyu, a member of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), explained the Taiwan-related part of the bill, pointing out that Taiwan’s strategic position in the eyes of the United States has been enhanced. (RFA file photo)
Wang Dingyu: “In addition, it is also mentioned that Taiwan is a vital part of the Indo-Pacific region, and Taiwan’s peace and stability is also vital to the United States (a vital part), and protecting Taiwan’s security is in line with U.S. national interests.”
In an interview with the Taiwan Constitution Foundation, Deputy Executive Director Song Cheng-En analyzed the U.S. statement in the Taiwan Relations Act, which only says that Taiwan’s security is a “serious concern” for the United States. The Strategic Competition Act of 2021 specifically states that enhancing the security of Taiwan and Taiwan’s democracy is a “vital national security interest” for the United States.
Soon-Shiong: “The section on Taiwan’s security specifically mentions the security of Taiwan and the crisis of Taiwan’s democracy. The bill says that Taiwan’s security and the crisis of Taiwan’s democracy are a vital part of U.S. national security policy. It used to say that Taiwan’s security and peace in the Taiwan Strait is an important part of U.S. national security policy in the Western Pacific; now it’s a vital part of U.S. national security.”
Taiwan Constitution Foundation Deputy Executive Director Song Chengen believes that the U.S. is prepared to intervene in the event of a Chinese Communist attack on Taiwan. (RFA file photo)
U.S. prepares for the Chinese Communist Party’s intervention in the event of an attack on Taiwan
Song suggests that the United States has a grand strategy to ensure that if something happens in the Taiwan Strait, he can take action to stop it. Since former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last November that “Taiwan is not part of China,” the U.S. has had a strategy behind whatever bill it talks about, which is that if the Chinese Communist Party were to attack Taiwan, the U.S. would be able to intervene legally without being internationally accused of interfering in China’s internal affairs.
Song Chengen: “He treats Taiwan as a country, not as another entity different from other countries. The bill in the so-called Indo-Pacific strategy definition refers to the ‘Indo-Pacific region’ in this law refers to the 36 countries in the middle and around the Indo-Pacific, including the following countries, of which Taiwan is listed among these countries. Along with other countries including Indonesia, South Korea and Japan. That is, in the eyes of the United States, there is no longer the so-called ‘unofficial’ and ‘one-China’ policy, there is none.”
Song Chengen believes that the bill in the supply chain restructuring section, the Pompeo era “clean network” into, but also put the Biden administration democratic alliance concept into. The bill mentions that the U.S. must work with its trusted partners, specifically naming the European Union, Japan and Taiwan, to plan and enter into agreements on supply chain restructuring to ensure that the supply chain can be moved out of China and into the hands of trusted U.S. partners. Taiwan is considered an important partner in the U.S. supply chain because of its technological strength.
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