Two US lawmakers on Thursday introduced a bill calling on Washington to support Taiwan’s participation as a member of the IMF to ensure its voice is heard on international financial issues.
The “Taiwan non-discrimination act” — introduced by US Representative Young Kim, who is on the US House Financial Services and Foreign Affairs committees, and US Representative Al Green — seeks to ensure that the US representative on the IMF board of governors advocates for Taiwan’s admission in the international financial institution.
The bill also calls for Taiwan’s participation in the organization’s regular surveillance activities relating to Taiwan’s economic and financial policies, job opportunities for Taiwanese at the IMF, and a provision for IMF technical assistance and training for Taiwan.
Photo: Reuters
“As the 21st-largest economy in the world and the 10th-largest goods trading partner of the United States, Taiwan deserves a seat at the IMF,” Kim said in a statement released on Thursday.
“For far too long, Taiwan’s freedoms have been suppressed and voice has been silenced by the Chinese Communist Party. The Taiwan non-discrimination act helps right this wrong and ensures Taiwan’s voice is heard in international financial decisions,” she said.
Kim said that she and Green would fight to pass the bill.
“I will always be a loud voice in Congress for our freedom-loving allies,” she added.
Green said in the statement that the bill requires the US’ IMF representative to use the voice and vote of the US to urge Taiwan’s participation and membership in the IMF.
“As a leading world economy, Taiwan’s experience in promoting sound economic policies can be instrumental in helping the IMF achieve its mission. Thus, it deserves a seat at the table,” he said.
“My hope is that this bill will help steer it toward that direction,” he said.
A bill to promote Taiwan’s membership in the IMF was previously introduced in May 2020 by then-US representative Anthony Gonzalez, who did not run for re-election last year.
In November last year, Gonzalez and Green again presented a bill with the same goal, but it failed to pass the House.
The IMF is a global organization of 190 members that promotes the health of the world economy.
RETHINK? The defense ministry and Navy Command Headquarters could take over the indigenous submarine project and change its production timeline, a source said Admiral Huang Shu-kuang’s (黃曙光) resignation as head of the Indigenous Submarine Program and as a member of the National Security Council could affect the production of submarines, a source said yesterday. Huang in a statement last night said he had decided to resign due to national security concerns while expressing the hope that it would put a stop to political wrangling that only undermines the advancement of the nation’s defense capabilities. Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Vivian Huang (黃珊珊) yesterday said that the admiral, her older brother, felt it was time for him to step down and that he had completed what he
Taiwan has experienced its most significant improvement in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, data provided on Sunday by international higher education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) showed. Compared with last year’s edition of the rankings, which measure academic excellence and influence, Taiwanese universities made great improvements in the H Index metric, which evaluates research productivity and its impact, with a notable 30 percent increase overall, QS said. Taiwanese universities also made notable progress in the Citations per Paper metric, which measures the impact of research, achieving a 13 percent increase. Taiwanese universities gained 10 percent in Academic Reputation, but declined 18 percent
UNDER DISCUSSION: The combatant command would integrate fast attack boat and anti-ship missile groups to defend waters closest to the coastline, a source said The military could establish a new combatant command as early as 2026, which would be tasked with defending Taiwan’s territorial waters 24 nautical miles (44.4km) from the nation’s coastline, a source familiar with the matter said yesterday. The new command, which would fall under the Naval Command Headquarters, would be led by a vice admiral and integrate existing fast attack boat and anti-ship missile groups, along with the Naval Maritime Surveillance and Reconnaissance Command, said the source, who asked to remain anonymous. It could be launched by 2026, but details are being discussed and no final timetable has been announced, the source
SHOT IN THE ARM: The new system can be integrated with Avenger and Stinger missiles to bolster regional air defense capabilities, a defense ministry report said Domestically developed Land Sword II (陸射劍二) missiles were successfully launched and hit target drones during a live-fire exercise at the Jiupeng Military Base in Pingtung County yesterday. The missiles, developed by the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology (CSIST), were originally scheduled to launch on Tuesday last week, after the Tomb Sweeping Day holiday long weekend, but were postponed to yesterday due to weather conditions. Local residents and military enthusiasts gathered outside the base to watch the missile tests, with the first one launching at 9:10am. The Land Sword II system, which is derived from the Sky Sword II (天劍二) series, was turned