US senators’ Taiwan bill to ‘restructure’ relations with Taipei
- Republican and Democrat duo introduce draft legislation which includes proposed changes to Washington’s long-standing policy
- There are provisions for billions of dollars in security funding and sanctions against Beijing for any aggression towards the island
The Taiwan Policy Act of 2022 threatens severe sanctions against China for any aggression against Taiwan, which Beijing regards as part of its territory. It would also provide US$4.5 billion in foreign military financing over the next four years, as well as designate Taiwan a “major non-Nato ally”, according to the text.
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The US, which accuses Beijing of ramping up military coercion towards Taiwan, is the island’s main supporter and arms supplier, a point of increasing friction between Washington and Beijing, whose relations are already at their lowest point in decades.
The sponsors, Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Bob Menendez, a Democrat, and Republican Lindsey Graham, said it would be the most comprehensive restructuring of US policy towards the island since the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 – its bedrock since Washington opened up relations with China that year.
“As Beijing continues to seek to coerce and isolate Taiwan there should be no doubt or ambiguity about the depth and strength of our determination to stand with the people of Taiwan and their democracy,” Menendez said in a statement.
He said the bill sent a clear message that China should not make the same mistakes as Russia in its invasion of Ukraine.
“The danger will only grow worse if we show weakness in the face of Chinese threats and aggression toward Taiwan,” Graham said. Senate aides said the pair hoped to have the committee vote to send the bill to the Senate floor as early as next week.
Washington and Beijing have stood firm on their opposing views about Taiwan’s right to rule itself.
China’s embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the proposed legislation.
One US official familiar with the bill said some of its elements made President Joe Biden’s administration and the State Department uneasy, given concerns it could antagonise China.
Chinese concerns rise over US policy shift on Taiwan
Any legislation would also have to pass the House of Representatives, and another expansive bill intended to boost US competitiveness with China has been languishing in Congress for months.
The White House and State Department did not respond to a request for comment.
Should it become law as currently written, the bill would “prioritise and expedite” arms sales to Taiwan until Congress determines the threat to the island has significantly abated, as well as direct the defence secretary to establish a training programme to increase Taiwan and US armed forces interoperability.
The US president would be required to impose sanctions on Chinese officials, including its president, in response to “significant escalation in hostile action in or against Taiwan”, such as undermining or overthrowing Taiwan’s government or occupying the island.
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‘One China’ explained
It would amend parts of the Taiwan Relations Act, including by adding that US arms provisions to Taiwan be “conducive to deterring acts of aggression” by Beijing.
It would also push the State Department to seek negotiations to rename Taiwan’s de facto embassy in Washington to the Taiwan Representative Office, and would elevate the role of Washington’s top official in Taiwan by requiring Senate confirmation for the post.
Beijing has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, and Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe last week said China’s military “would have no choice but to fight at any cost and crush any attempt of Taiwan independence”.
