The US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations is to review four Taiwan-related bills on Thursday next week covering “sovereignty symbols,” energy security, undersea cable protection and support for Taiwan’s partners.
The four are the Taiwan Symbols of Sovereignty Act, the Taiwan Energy Security and Anti-Embargo Act, the Taiwan Undersea Cable Resilience Initiative Act and the Taiwan Allies Fund Act, information on the committee’s Web site says.
The Taiwan Symbols of Sovereignty Act was introduced in October last year by Republican US Senator Ted Cruz and other lawmakers to lift restrictions dating back to the administration of former US president Barack Obama that prohibit Taiwanese diplomats and military personnel from displaying sovereignty symbols during official visits to the US.
Photo: Reuters
Under the proposal, the US secretary of state and the secretary of defense would be required to allow armed forces members and government representatives of the Republic of China (Taiwan) or the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US to display symbols of sovereignty, such as the national flag and military unit insignia, while on official business in the US.
The second bill, the bipartisan Taiwan Energy Security and Anti-Embargo Act, focuses on Taiwan’s dependence on imported energy and its vulnerability to coercion by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
The bill authorizes expanded US exports of liquefied natural gas to Taiwan, support for Taiwan’s energy infrastructure, encouragement of nuclear energy use, and measures to ensure sufficient and continuous energy deliveries to the nation during emergencies.
The third bipartisan proposal, the Taiwan Undersea Cable Resilience Initiative Act, is aimed at protecting Taiwan’s critical communications infrastructure and deterring China’s “gray zone” activities.
Noting that 99 percent of Taiwan’s Internet bandwidth relies on undersea cables, the bill would require the US secretary of state to lead efforts to strengthen cable security around Taiwan.
That would entail coordinating US Navy cooperation with the Coast Guard Administration, providing intelligence warnings, and imposing sanctions on those who damage undersea cables, the bill says.
Finally, the Taiwan Allies Fund Act would authorize the executive branch to establish a fund totaling US$120 million over three years to assist Taiwan’s diplomatic allies and unofficial partners facing pressure from the CCP.
Eligible countries would need to meet such criteria as maintaining diplomatic ties with Taiwan or significantly strengthening unofficial relations, as well as facing Chinese coercion due to Taiwan ties, but being unable to respond effectively to such pressure without US support.
After approval by the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, the bills still have to be approved by the US Senate and House of Representatives, and US President Donald Trump to take effect.
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