Taiwan Assurance Act of 2019

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 273, which reaffirms the United States commitment to Taiwan and to the implementation of the Taiwan Relations Act, or TRA.

As a longtime friend of the people of Taiwan, a founding co-chair of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, and a cosponsor of this resolution, I want to thank Chairman Engel and Ranking Member McCaul for their work to support our critical bilateral relationship with Taiwan.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, which together with President Reagan's Six Assurances, serve as the foundation for the relationship between our two countries, and I mean countries.

Since the TRA was signed in 1979, Taiwan has become a vibrant, consolidated democracy, one of our most important trading partners and a model in so many areas for the rest of Asia and the whole world, really.

Going forward, we must continue to implement the TRA and do better at fully appreciating the policy commitments it contains. With that in mind, I urge the President to immediately finalize an arms sales package with Taiwan as well as begin negotiations for a free trade agreement.

As China's influence grows, our commitment to Taiwan will be the bellwether of our commitment to democracy in Asia. We do not owe China a vote in how we treat Taiwan. If we are equivocal in our support for Taiwan in the face of Chinese pressure, how can we credibly support democracy and democratic values when they are threatened elsewhere?

I also want to voice my support for H.R. 2002, Ranking Member McCaul's Taiwan Assurance Act. This legislation takes important steps to advance our bilateral relationship, including support for arms sales and for Taiwan's participation in international organizations. It would also require a review of the State Department's, I believe, unreasonable guidelines for Taiwan's diplomatic staff here in the U.S.

And I would be remiss if I didn't mention that I wish the legislation did not refer to the misguided U.S. One-China policy, but I understand that it was included as part of negotiations with the Senate.

Finally, the Taiwan Assurance Act requires a report on implementation of the Taiwan Travel Act, legislation that I introduced last Congress to increase high-level visits between U.S. and Taiwanese officials. Since the bill became law a little over a year ago, we have seen not enough action, and I believe that it is past time for full implementation of this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, as we mark the TRA's 40th anniversary, H. Res. 273 and H.R. 2002 are critical to strengthening our enduring relationship with Taiwan as we look forward to the next 40 years, so I would urge my colleagues to support both of them.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2002) to foster security in Taiwan, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 2002, the Taiwan Assurance Act of 2019.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in strong support of H.R. 2002, the Taiwan Assurance Act of 2019.

Last month, we celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, so it is fitting that we are standing here today to bring two important measures to the floor, including this one, to affirm the unwavering, bipartisan congressional support for Taiwan.

Taiwan serves as a steadfast and significant partner to the United States, not just in the Indo-Pacific, but also around the world. It makes substantial contributions to the international community by tackling global challenges, from combating terrorism to promoting public health; and it holds close the values we cherish the most, standing as a beacon of democracy in Asia.

However, over the years, China has attempted to weaken Taiwan's standing in the world. It has restricted Taiwan's access to international organizations and poached its diplomatic allies, and it has attempted to shape the way the United States conducts its relationship with Taiwan, a dynamic we have, regretfully, allowed.

We must not--we cannot--stand for this. We cannot sit idly by and allow one of our most valued democratic partners to be sidelined on the world stage. It is time to revisit the guidelines we use in the conduct of our relationship with Taiwan and ensure that the United States is doing all it can to fulfill our commitments to Taiwan.

That is why I am proud to support and cosponsor the Taiwan Assurance Act. This measure asks the State Department to take a closer look at self-imposed guidelines we follow with Taiwan and assess them based on merit, not on what would appease China.

As proud co-chair of the Taiwan Caucus, I strongly support the passage of H.R. 2002, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I urge my colleagues to support this measure. This is an important bill that demonstrates our historical bipartisan support for Taiwan, and so, as co-chair of the Taiwan Caucus, I strongly promote the immediate passage of H.R. 2002.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 273) reaffirming the United States commitment to Taiwan and to the implementation of the Taiwan Relations Act.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 273, reaffirming the United States commitment to Taiwan and to the implementation of the Taiwan Relations Act.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in strong support of H. Res. 273, reaffirming the United States commitment to Taiwan and to the implementation of the Taiwan Relations Act.

Signed into law four decades ago, the Taiwan Relations Act marked the first and most significant act of support for Taiwan by Congress. It unequivocally demonstrates our support to Taiwan. Along with the Six Assurances, this act remains the bedrock of our deep partnership with Taiwan.

With the support of this landmark piece of legislation and in the 40 years since, the United States has deepened security, economic, and people-to-people ties with Taiwan. Our two nations have worked together to maintain peace, security, and stability in the Pacific through our shared commitment to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

Unfortunately, China seeks to diminish Taiwan's presence on the world stage. We must fully use the tools at our disposal to fight back against these efforts.

It is important that Congress must do what we can to honor our commitment to Taiwan. That is why I have long been a proud co-chair of the Taiwan Caucus and why I support this measure.

H. Res. 273 reaffirms our commitment to the people of Taiwan, encourages high-level engagement as called for in the Taiwan Travel Act, promotes Taiwan's meaningful engagement in international organizations, and calls to deepen cultural ties.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time and would inquire through the Speaker if my colleague has any remaining speakers on his side.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution, H. Res. 273, reaffirming our commitments made to Taiwan 40 years ago and strengthens our ability to fulfill them.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in support of the Taiwan Assurance Act, a bill introduced to deepen and expand U.S.-Taiwan relations. I want to thank Chairman Engel and all those on the other side of the aisle and the gentleman from New Jersey for agreeing to be the lead Democratic cosponsors of this important bill that deepens our ties with Taiwan.

Of note, the bill urges the State Department to eliminate self- imposed restrictions on U.S. diplomatic interactions with Taiwan and to provide Congress access to those policies for the first time.

Prior administrations have applied unnecessary and arbitrary restrictions on their own interactions with officials from Taiwan. At times, these restrictions expanded, apparently in response to complaints by Communist China.

As the body that produced the Taiwan Relations Act, it is necessary and appropriate for Congress to have awareness and a say in how these policies are made. They go well beyond what is required by the carefully crafted TRA, which does not even state that U.S.-Taiwan relations are unofficial.

Since the TRA was enacted in 1979, Taiwan's Government has evolved into a vibrant democracy, while the Chinese Government has become more and more authoritarian.

It is improper to restrict relations with Taiwan to avoid offending the Chinese Communist Party, and it is out of step with reality to keep pretending that Taiwan is anything other than a fully functioning democracy.

Taiwan deserves a more elevated relationship with the United States, and I urge my colleagues to join me in rewarding Taiwan's commitment to democracy by supporting the Taiwan Assurance Act.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would just like to, once again, thank Chairman

Engel and the entire Foreign Affairs Committee for their enthusiastic support of this measure and their support for the democracy of Taiwan.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution reaffirming the United States commitment to Taiwan and the implementation of the Taiwan Relations Act.

I also want to thank my good friend Chairman Engel and Congressman Sires for offering this resolution, which gives us an opportunity to reflect on the importance of U.S.-Taiwan relations at a very critical time.

As the House considers this measure today, the United States and Taiwan share in a celebration, the 40th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, which occurred on April 10 of this year. The Taiwan Relations Act remains one of Congress' most distinguished and lasting contributions to U.S. foreign policy.

The TRA built an unshakable foundation for U.S.-Taiwan relations, and the people of Taiwan have repaid this gesture by transforming Taiwan into a beacon of democracy and individual liberties. As is often said, Taiwan is a force for good in the world.

Reaffirming the U.S. commitment to Taiwan at this moment is also essential because we are standing together to face a growing threat. Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping is using all the tools at his disposal--military, economic, informational, and diplomatic--to try to destroy Taiwan's democracy.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution to remind him once again that he will not succeed on our watch.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot), the senior member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and a former chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and Nonproliferation.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.