TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee advanced Thursday three bipartisan bills to bolster Taiwan's security against Chinese coercion.
However, it deferred Senator Ted Cruz's symbolic measure due to concerns it could provoke Beijing before potential Trump-Xi summits.
The Formosan Association for Public Affairs responded positively to the news in a statement Friday. “The threat posed by (China) in the Taiwan Strait is both urgent and escalating,” FAPA National President Kao Su-mei (高素梅) commented.
“We can no longer afford the luxury of delay; that is why the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is moving decisively and with bipartisan purpose early in the new year to safeguard Taiwan’s sovereignty and ensure it remains free, democratic, and independent.”
The Taiwan Energy Security and Anti-Embargo Act boosts the US’ LNG exports and nuclear energy to shield Taiwan from CCP blockades. The Taiwan Undersea Cable Resilience Initiative Act coordinates the US Navy with Taiwan's Coast Guard, adds sanctions for cable saboteurs and shares intel warnings.
The Taiwan Allies Fund Act authorizes NT$3.79 billion (US$120 million) over three years for Taiwan's diplomatic partners facing Beijing pressure. All three bills now head to the full Senate, then possibly the House and the president, per a press release from Senator Chris Van Hollen.
Cruz's Taiwan Symbols of Sovereignty Act would lift former US President Barack Obama’s bans on Taiwan flags and insignia during US visits by diplomats, troops and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office. Some senators objected, citing State Department opposition, no Taiwan requests, and escalation risks.
Cruz likened the bans to hiding the French flag but agreed to delay for consensus. No new hearing date is set as one member can block progress.
Taiwan's US office thanked the Senate for advancing the bills and pledged to deepen bilateral ties.
