The U.S. House and Senate passed the Taiwan Assurance Act of 2020 on Monday (21), which will take effect after President Trump signs it. Taiwan’s representative office in the United States expressed gratitude for the passage of the bill, describing it as a practical move by the Democratic and Republican parties to promote the development of U.S.-Taiwan relations.
The bill makes clear that Taiwan is an important part of the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy and supports the normalization of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan to enhance Taiwan’s defense capabilities and assist Taiwan in strengthening its self-defense capabilities. The bill specifically mentions assistance to Taiwan in developing and integrating “asymmetric warfare capabilities” to support surface and underwater and air defense capabilities.
The bill also supports Taiwan’s participation in the United Nations, the World health Assembly (WHA), the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and other international organizations. “The bill also supports Taiwan’s participation as a member of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and other international organizations where national participation is not a requirement. The bill also supports Taiwan’s membership in the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and other international organizations that do not require national participation. Within 180 days of the bill’s entry into force, the Secretary of State will review the “Guidelines for Engagement with Taiwan” and other documents and reissue the guidelines that the executive branch should follow.
Congress believes that, based on the values and interests of both the United States and Taiwan, the United States should recognize Taiwan as a freely and fairly elected, peacefully elected democratic government, and that U.S. relations with Taiwan must be consistent with the long-term, comprehensive, and strategically minded goals of both sides. The Taiwan Reassurance Act was introduced in the House and Senate in March and April 2019, respectively, and passed unanimously by the House of Representatives on May 7 of the same year. The content of the Taiwan Reassurance Act, which is included in the appropriations bill, is the House version.
Recent Comments