2 senators propose legislation to overhaul US-Taiwan policy

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The Democratic and Republican heads of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee introduced legislation on Friday that would propose a major overhaul of US policy toward Taiwan.

The legislation, introduced by Sens. Bob Menendez and Lindsey Graham, would provide Taiwan with roughly $4.5 billion in security assistance over the next four years and would designate Taiwan as a major non-NATO ally. Taiwan is already treated as a major non-NATO ally under US law, but is not formally designated as such.

The act would further add additional US support for Taiwan's inclusion in international organizations and trade blocs.

"The Taiwan Policy Act of 2022 represents a seminal statement of the United States’ absolute commitment to stand with Taiwan and all those who share our interests and our values in the Indo-Pacific in the face of Beijing’s military, economic, and diplomatic threats and bullying," Menendez, the committee chairman, said in a statement.

"As Beijing continues to seek to coerce and isolate Taiwan there should be no doubt or ambiguity about the depth and strength of our determination to stand with the people of Taiwan and their democracy," he added.

The senators last visited Taiwan in April 2022 as part of a regional visit to the Asia-Pacific in which they sat down with Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen, and other senior Taiwanese officials.

China considers Taiwan a “breakaway province,” but Taipei has maintained its independence since 1949.

US relations with Taiwan have long been governed by the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979. The act commits the US to supply Taipei with the resources it needs to defend against a potential attack, but it does not explicitly commit the US to militarily stepping in if Taiwan is invaded by China.

President Joe Biden last month explicitly said the US would defend Taiwan should China invade, but the remarks were quickly walked by his officials.