U.S. Senators Propose Bill to Make Taiwan a “Major non-NATO ally”

Two U.S. senators introduced a bill called The Taiwan Policy Act of 2022 on June 16th, hoping to significantly boost support for Taiwan. The bill includes providing billions of dollars in military financing assistance to Taiwan, enhancing unofficial ties between the United States and Taiwan, as well as designating Taiwan a major non-NATO ally.

The bill was introduced by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez, a Democrat, and Republican Lindsey Graham. The bill includes severe sanctions against Communist China for any aggression against Taiwan, and would provide $4.5 billion in foreign military financing over the next four year.

The senators said the bill would be the most comprehensive restructuring of U.S. policy toward Taiwan since the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979. Menendez said there should be no hesitation about the U.S. strength to stand with Taiwan as the Chinese Communist Party continues to coerce and isolate Taiwan. He stressed that the bill sent a clear message to the CCP not to make the same mistake as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Graham aides said that if the U.S. shows weakness in face of CCP’s threats to Taiwan, the danger will only grow worse.

The bill would amend part of the contents involving Taiwan’s customs, including providing additional arms that can deter aggression acts to Taiwan and would require the State Department to rename Taiwan’s de facto embassy in Washington to the Taiwan Representative Office.