Periodic Reviews and Updated Reports of the Department of State's Taiwan Guidelines Under the Taiwan Assurance Act of 2020

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Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1159) to amend the Taiwan Assurance Act of 2020 to require periodic reviews and updated reports relating to the Department of State's Taiwan Guidelines.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 1159

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. PERIODIC REVIEWS AND UPDATED REPORTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE'S TAIWAN GUIDELINES UNDER THE TAIWAN ASSURANCE ACT OF 2020.

Section 315 of the Taiwan Assurance Act of 2020 (Public Law 116-260; 134 Stat. 3100) is amended--

(1) in subsection (c)(1), by adding at the end before ``; and'' the following: ``and any successor document or related document disseminating such guidance''; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

``(d) Periodic Reviews and Updated Reports.--

``(1) In general.--For as long as the Department of State's guidance that governs relations with Taiwan described in subsection (a) remains in effect, the Secretary of State shall conduct periodic reviews as described in subsection (a) and submit updated reports as described in subsection (c) not less frequently than every two years following the submission of the initial report described in subsection (c).

``(2) Matters to be included.--Such updated reports shall include--

``(A) a description of how the guidance meets the goals and objectives described in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of subsection (b); and

``(B) an identification of opportunities and plans to lift self-imposed restrictions on relations with Taiwan.''.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Taiwan assurance implementation act, my bipartisan legislation to ensure the United States engages Taiwan in a way that deepens our relationship with this important partner.

Taiwan faces an unprecedented threat from an increasingly capable and erratic People's Republic of China. Xi Jinping has said that so-called reunification with Taiwan is a core goal of his great rejuvenation campaign, and Chinese Communist Party officials have made clear that they are not afraid to use force to achieve this goal.

Mr. Speaker, our own intelligence community has assessed that the PRC is investing in military capabilities that will enable it to take Taiwan by 2027, but we do not need intelligence to tell us what we already see. The PRC is flying bombers and fighter jets into Taiwanese airspace and waters, threatening to sanction Taiwanese businesses, and harassing Taiwanese Government officials.

If we are to defeat China's plan to replace the United States as the world's preeminent power, we cannot be ruled by fear. That means boldly standing by our friends and partners, particularly Taiwan.

We must increase our economic ties, defense relationship, and political support of Taiwan's democratic system. Unfortunately, our own State Department has often unilaterally censored or restricted its engagement with Taiwan.

Hiding behind opacity and red tape hurts our partnership with Taiwan at a moment when we need to be standing shoulder to shoulder with our allies and partners. Any waffling invites bullies like Xi and Putin to push the envelope.

This is why the Taiwan Assurance Act, or TAA, was enacted with strong bipartisan support in 2020, but the threat Taiwan faces has only grown since then. This bill amends the TAA to ensure that the State Department's policy of engagement with Taiwan is appropriate to today's geopolitical challenges. We must acknowledge the growing threat Taiwan faces and help build resilience to that threat.

I was proud to introduce this bipartisan bill along with the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly), who has been an absolute champion for Taiwan for so many years.

It received unanimous support during markup by the Foreign Affairs Committee, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, the geopolitical situation surrounding Taiwan is changing rapidly. Our relationship with Taiwan must be flexible enough to meet these new challenges.

Unfortunately, the State Department's classified Taiwan contact guidelines are often not conducive to a robust relationship with Taiwan, and Congress has little insight into the decisionmaking behind these guidelines.

Mr. Speaker, the bottom line of this legislation is this:

H.R. 1159 would reauthorize the bipartisan Taiwan Assurance Act of 2020, strengthen its reporting requirements, and require greater transparency from the State Department.

It would ensure the United States is approaching its relationship with Taiwan in a manner that strengthens our relationships with democratic partners who are under threat by aggressive dictatorships, and it would ask the administration to identify opportunities to lift remaining self-imposed restrictions on engagement.

Mr. Speaker, I urge each of my colleagues to support this important bipartisan bill. I thank the ranking member, Mr. Meeks, and I thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly) for joining me in supporting this unanimously out of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

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

The yeas and nays were ordered.

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