US bill to protect Taiwan from Chinese diplomatic pressure wins congressional committee approval
- Taiwan allies bill will move on to full House of Representatives
- Anti-China position is now mainstream in US Congress, says Taipei academic
Analysts said the legislation signalled a change in US attitudes towards cross-strait issues and that instead of allowing Taiwan and Beijing to resolve their differences, the US should work with Taiwan in dealing with the mainland.
A day after the Senate passed its version, the House committee approved the bill which called on Washington to help Taiwan hold on to diplomatic allies in the face of pressure from Beijing .
The House’s bill would authorise the US State Department to consider “reducing its economic, security and diplomatic engagements with nations that take serious or significant actions to undermine Taiwan”.
The bill was expected to be approved by a House floor vote in November, and Congress would then compare both versions and create a bill for President Donald Trump to sign into law.