Members of the US House of Representatives on Tuesday reintroduced a bill to support Taiwan's international space and counter coercion by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
The Taiwan Allies Fund Act was reintroduced by Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi and other lawmakers across party lines, including Representatives John Moolenaar (Republican), Gregory Meeks (Democrat) and Ted Lieu (劉雲平, Democrat), according to a statement issued by the House Select Committee on the CCP.
The Senate companion bill, meanwhile, is being led by Senators Chris Van Hollen (Democrat), John Curtis (Republican) and Andy Kim (Democrat). Krishnamoorthi had announced his intent to reintroduce the bill in late March.
Photo: Reuters
The legislation authorizes an allocation of US$120 million over three years from 2026 to 2028 to provide foreign assistance to Taiwan's official and unofficial partners subjected to coercion and pressure from the CCP.
Under the bill, the appropriations may be used in countries that meet certain criteria, including those that "maintain official relations with Taiwan or have meaningfully strengthened unofficial relations with Taiwan" and "have been subject to coercion or pressure by the People's Republic of China [PRC] due to their relations with Taiwan."
A country that qualifies for such funds, however, may not receive more than US$5 million during any fiscal year.
According to the bill, the money may be used to support activities such as building "the capacity and resilience of civil society, media, and other nongovernmental organizations in countering the influence and propaganda of the PRC."
To maximize cost efficiency and eliminate duplication, the bill mentioned that the secretary of state should work with the director of the American Institute in Taiwan to ensure coordination with relevant parties in Taiwan.
"China wants the world to turn a blind eye to its nefarious ambitions with Taiwan," Curtis was quoted as saying in the release.
"We cannot allow nations to fall prey to China's pressure campaigns, which is why we've introduced bipartisan legislation to counter China's attempts to silence Taiwan's allies," he said.
"Our bill helps countries stand strong in the face of the CCP and strengthen their ties with Taiwan," he said.
That Taiwan Allies Fund Act was co-sponsored by Krishnamoorthi last year, but it was not enacted into law after stalling in the Senate.
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