TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The US House of Representatives unanimously passed two Taiwan-related bills on Monday. 

The Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act authorizes the State Department to regularly review and report on self-imposed restrictions on interactions with Taiwan and to outline plans for lifting them, per CNA. The Taiwan International Solidarity Act is an enhanced version of the 2020 Taipei Act and clarifies that UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 does not pertain to Taiwan.

Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act

Under current US law, the State Department is required to conduct a one-time review of its guidelines for engagement with Taiwan and report the results to Congress. The new Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act strengthens the 2020 Taiwan Assurance Act by requiring the State Department to perform regular reviews of these engagement guidelines and submit reports to Congress, including plans to lift outdated restrictions.

Representative Ann Wagner, one of the bill's sponsors, said Monday that these reviews must: 
1. Explain how the guidelines deepen US-Taiwan ties and reflect this relationship
2. Acknowledge Taiwan as a democratic partner that upholds human rights and shared values
3. Ensure US-Taiwan relations reflect shared values and support peace in the Taiwan Strait 

Since the US severed diplomatic relations with Taiwan under the Carter administration in 1979, the State Department has imposed increasing layers of restrictions on official interactions with Taiwan for fear of agitating China. In January 2021, then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the removal of all self-imposed restrictions on US-Taiwan engagement just before leaving office. 

In March 2021, reports surfaced that the Biden administration would codify many, but not all, of the steps taken by its predecessor to ease restrictions on diplomatic exchanges between Washington and Taipei. However, a State Department memo issued on June 29, 2021, titled “Memorandum for All Department and Agency Executive Secretaries,” reinstated many of the restrictions.

With Marco Rubio, a longtime advocate of pro-Taiwan legislation, leading the State Department, observers are closely watching whether the US will continue lifting or reimposing these constraints, per CNA. The bill also encourages US allies and partners to push back, when appropriate, against China's efforts to undermine Taiwan's diplomatic relationships or partnerships with non-diplomatic allies.

Taiwan International Solidarity Act 

In 1971, the UN General Assembly passed Resolution 2758, which declared the People's Republic of China as "the only legitimate representative of China to the United Nations." Since then, Beijing has expanded this interpretation to mean that "Taiwan is a part of China" and thus does not need separate representation, preventing Taiwan from participating in UN-affiliated organizations and activities.

The Taiwan International Solidarity Act says that while Resolution 2758 recognizes the PRC as China’s representative at the UN, the US “should oppose any attempts by the People’s Republic of China to resolve Taiwan’s status by distorting the decisions, language, policies, or procedures of the organization, and for other purposes.”

The bill calls on US government representatives in all international organizations to use Washington's “voice, vote, and influence” to advocate against any efforts by Beijing to distort Taiwan-related “decisions, language, polices, or procedures.” 

It also encourages US allies and partners to oppose China's attempts to undermine Taiwan’s diplomatic relations and its partnerships with countries that do not have diplomatic ties with Beijing.

One of the bill's sponsors, Representative Gerald E. Connolly, said Monday, “For too long, the People’s Republic of China has distorted policies and procedures at international organizations to assert its sovereignty claims over Taiwan, often to the detriment of global health, governance, and security efforts." Connolly then added, “This bipartisan legislation ensures that we stand against Beijing’s weaponization of international organizations and in solidarity with the wishes and best interests of the people of Taiwan.”

For the bills to become laws, the House and Senate must pass identical versions, and the president must sign them.