A bipartisan group of US lawmakers yesterday reintroduced the Taiwan International Solidarity Act in the US House of Representatives, after the pro-Taiwan legislation previously stalled in the Senate in 2023.
The act "encourages the US to work with allies and partners to oppose the People's Republic of China's efforts to undermine Taiwan's diplomatic relationships and partnerships globally," according to a news release from the office of US Representative Gerry Connolly, a Democrat, who introduced the bill.
Photo: I-Hwa Cheng, Bloomberg
The legislation "clarifies" that UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 — which Beijing has cited as a legal basis for its territorial claim over Taiwan — "does not preclude the United States from using its vote, voice and influence to resist the reckless campaign against Taiwan's place on the world stage," the news release said.
Connolly said the bill is built on the 2019 Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative Act to counter China's "weaponization" of international organizations and "stand in solidarity with the wishes and best interests of the people of Taiwan."
According to the draft bill, it would require the US government "to use the voice, vote and influence of the United States" to "advocate [...] to resist the People's Republic of China's efforts to distort the decisions, language, policies or procedures of [international] organizations regarding Taiwan."
"Taiwan has a track record of success in democracy and global health security, and its perspective deserves to be heard," said US Representative Young Kim, a Republican, who cosponsored the bill.
Kim, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific, said that the act helps demonstrate "through meaningful action" US support for Taiwan's status in international organizations.
"Taiwan's participation in global conversation is the world's gain," Kim was quoted as saying.
The bill is cosponsored by Democrats Ami Bera, Dina Titus, Steve Cohen, Thomas Suozzi, Dave Min, Josh Gottheimer and Brad Sherman, and Republicans Brian Fitzpatrick and Michael Lawler, the news release said.
According to US legislative procedures, the bill is to next enter the committee review stage and must pass both the House and Senate before it can be signed into law by the president.
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