US Senate committee passes bill to support Taiwan’s diplomatic allies

It would allow US secretary of state to adjust America’s diplomatic presence in, and foreign assistance to, countries considering downgrading ties

Beijing has stepped up efforts to apply pressure on Taipei, and two Pacific allies switched recognition last week

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The bill needs to pass a vote in the Senate and in the House of Representatives before it can be approved by President Donald Trump and enacted into law. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 7:14pm, 26 Sep 2019Updated: 9:44pm, 26 Sep 2019

A US Senate committee has passed a bill to support Taipei’s diplomatic allies, moving it closer to becoming law at a time when Beijing has stepped up efforts to squeeze Taiwan’s international space.

The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations voted unanimously on Wednesday to pass the Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement (TAIPEI) Act, which will pave the way for the bill, sponsored by Senator Cory Gardner of Colorado, to reach the Senate floor for a vote.

“The United States should use every tool to support Taiwan’s standing on the international stage,” Gardner said in a statement, adding that the US government should also immediately begin to negotiate a free-trade agreement with Taiwan.

“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,” the Republican senator said.

Senator Cory Gardner said the US “should use every tool to support Taiwan’s standing on the international stage”. Photo: Bloomberg

The bill, reintroduced to Congress in May, would authorise the US secretary of state to adjust America’s diplomatic presence in, and expand, end or reduce foreign assistance to, countries considering downgrading ties – official or unofficial – with Taiwan.

It also states that US policy should be to advocate for Taiwan’s membership or observer status in international organisations, and that the US president should conduct “regular transfers of defence articles” to Taiwan, as well as encourage high-level travel by US officials to Taiwan.