The plan would include pressing the EU to maintain its embargo on arms sales to China, and "discourage foreign defense contractors from selling sensitive military-use technology or weapons systems to China."
The Senate version of the bill notes that "China is developing a leading-edge military with the objective of intimidating Taiwan and deterring United States involvement in the Strait," and says that China's recent military gains have "resulted in a dramatic shift in the cross-Strait military balance toward China."
It also cites the "Anti-Secession" Law that China's National People's Congress enacted last March.
Observers note that one of Congress' leading champions for Taiwan, House International Relations Committee chairman Henry Hyde, is on the conference committee.
Hyde's presence will be "encouraging," Blaauw says, adding that the negotiations will be "tough."
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