US Republican senators on Thursday introduced a bill to set up the US for success in its competition against China, with provisions that included support for Taiwan.
“The STRATEGIC Act comes at an important time as the Chinese Communist Party [CCP] continues its efforts to undermine security and stability in the Indo-Pacific,” US Senator Todd Young said.
The legislative package “contains several critical initiatives to counter the CCP, strengthen American supply chains and bolster American support for Taiwan,” he said.
Photo: Will Oliver, EPA-EFE
The bill seeks to protect the interests of the US and its allies in the region, and would work to counter the China’s global influence, US Senator Dan Sullivan said, adding that it contains measures such as antitrust reform to crack down on China’s predatory economic behavior and a boost in US support for Taiwan.
A State and Treasury departments “Tiger Team” would be etablished to identify “targets for sanctions, export controls and other economic measures well before China takes military action” against Taiwan.
A provision on the “Treatment of the government of Taiwan,” also states the US should “treat the democratically elected government of Taiwan as the legitimate representative of the people of Taiwan” and “end the outdated practice of referring to the government of Taiwan as the ‘authorities.’” Additionally, it would require the US to cease any restrictions on interactions with Taiwan counterparts, including visits and displays of national symbols.
It would also allow for the transfer of “obsolete or surplus items” to Taiwan, and those “intended for use as reserve stock.”
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