The US House of Representatives yesterday passed a bill that supports Taiwan's return to the IMF, saying that such a move is a must because of Taiwan's stature in the global economy.
The House unanimously passed the Taiwan Non-Discrimination Act of 2025 (H.R. 910), which stipulates that the US secretary of the treasury, who also serves as the US governor to the IMF, should "vigorously support the admission of Taiwan as a member" in the institution.
Before the bill was put to a vote, US Representative Young Kim, who proposed the bill along with US Representative Al Green, spoke in support of Taiwan.
Photo: AFP
"Taiwan — the 21st largest economy in the world and producer of 90 percent of the world's advanced semiconductor chip supply — doesn't just deserve a seat at the table at the IMF. The free world needs Taiwan at the IMF," she said.
"We cannot be complicit as international organizations cede leverage to Beijing and silence Taiwan's voice. I thank my colleagues for joining me to support Taiwan's participation in the IMF, and I will keep fighting to get this to [US] President [Donald] Trump's desk."
Green said that supporting Taiwan in joining the IMF is "a common sense, bipartisan measure that furthers the long-term interests of both Taiwan and the US."
"Taiwan's expertise developing one of the largest and most complex economies in the world would bring a valuable perspective to multilateral economic organizations," he said.
The Republic of China, the official name of Taiwan, was a founding member of the IMF before the People's Republic of China took its place in 1980, nine years after Taipei lost its UN seat to Beijing.
The bill still needs to be approved by the US Senate before the president can sign it into law.
A largely similar piece of legislation passed the House in the last Congress, but failed to pass the Senate.
An exhibition demonstrating the rejuvenation of the indigenous Kuskus Village in Pingtung County’s Mudan Township (牡丹) opened at the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency’s conservation station in Taipei on Thursday. Agency Director-General Lin Hwa-ching (林華慶) said they have been promoting the use and development of forestry resources to local indigenous residents for eight years to drive regional revitalization. While modern conservation approaches mostly stem from western scientific research, eco-friendly knowledge and skills passed down through generations of indigenous people, who have lived in Taiwan for centuries, could be more suitable for the environment, he said. The agency’s Pingtung branch Director-General Yang Jui-fen (楊瑞芬)
Restaurants in New Taipei City, Hsinchu City and Hsinchu County are to be included in the Michelin Guide’s review for the first time this year, alongside existing entries from Taipei, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung, the France-based culinary publication said yesterday. This year’s edition of the Michelin Guide Taiwan is to be unveiled on Aug. 19 in Taipei. In addition to the coveted star ratings, Michelin Taiwan would announce its “Bib Gourmand” selections — a distinction awarded to establishments offering high-quality food at moderate prices — on Aug. 12. This year’s Bib Gourmand list would also feature restaurants in New Taipei City, Hsinchu
Rallies supporting recall efforts targeting Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers as well as a rally organized by the KMT opposing the recall campaigns are to take place in Taipei today. Traffic controls were in place on Taipei City Hall Road starting from 10pm last night, and would be in place on Jinan Road Sec 1 from 8am today, police said. Recall campaign groups in Taipei and New Taipei City advocating the recall of KMT legislators, along with the “Safeguard Taiwan Anti-Communist Alliance” have announced plans for motorcycle parades and public rallies in both cities today. Permission has been granted for campaigners to hold
M1A2T ABRAMS TANKS: Thirty-eight of the 108 armored vehicles were delivered in December last year, with the rest to be delivered between later this year and next year The military is to live stream a round of live-fire training sessions on Thursday featuring its newly delivered M1A2T Abrams tanks, allowing the public to witness the training results firsthand, the Ministry of National Defense said. Based on the ministry’s plan, the live-fire training session, scheduled to take place at an army tank training ground in the Kengzihkou (坑子口) area of Hsinchu County, is to feature the US-made armored vehicles firing their 120mm smoothbore guns at moving and stationary targets, while stationary or in motion. At least one senior government official is expected to preside over the round of training sessions, per