TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — US House of Representatives members on Thursday proposed a bipartisan bill to codify the Six Assurances.
Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi introduced the Six Assurances to Taiwan Act, a bill that would formally enshrine the pledges as official US policy, per CNA. The legislation also establishes a congressional review mechanism to ensure that no future administration can alter these principles without congressional approval.
The House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the US and the Chinese Communist Party said that the Six Assurances, issued by former President Ronald Reagan, have been reiterated by successive US administrations and cited in various laws, including the Taiwan Relations Act and the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act. However, it said that, unlike the Taiwan Relations Act, the Six Assurances have never been formally codified into US law.
The Six Assurances, as laid out by the Reagan administration in 1982, declare that the US:
- Has not agreed to set a date for ending arms sales to Taiwan
- Has not agreed to consult with the PRC on arms sales to Taiwan
- Will not play a mediation role between Taipei and Beijing
- Has not agreed to revise the Taiwan Relations Act
- Has not altered its position regarding sovereignty over Taiwan
- Will not exert pressure on Taiwan to enter into negotiations with the PRC
Krishnamoorthi said Taiwan is a vibrant democracy and critical partner of the US, and “it deserves clarity and certainty when it comes to our commitments.” He said the bill sends a clear bipartisan message: “We will stand firm against coercion, support peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and ensure that US policy remains consistent, principled, and rooted in law.”
Representative Young Kim, a co-sponsor of the bill, said the legislation demonstrates the US commitment to its partnership with Taiwan, “which is more important than ever as we face shared economic and security threats from the Chinese Communist Party.” She added that “Supporting Taiwan – a vibrant democracy that is home to 90% of advanced semiconductor chips – is in America’s best interests.”
Other co-sponsors include Representative Gregory Meeks (the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee), Greg Stanton, Zach Nunn, and Nicole Malliotakis.
For the bill to become law, the House and Senate must pass identical versions, and the president must sign them.
