Legislation would require annual reporting to Congress to better assess U.S. ability to deter Chinese aggression against Taiwan
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) introduced the Taiwan Relations Reinforcement Act, bipartisan legislation to mark the 47th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, strengthen congressional oversight, and ensure the United States is fully prepared to uphold its commitments under the landmark law, which has served as the cornerstone of U.S.-Taiwan relations since its adoption in 1979. Amid rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific, primarily from China, this legislation would require the Secretary of War, in coordination with U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, to submit an annual report to Congress assessing America’s ability to deter aggression against Taiwan and maintain stability in the region.
“Since the Taiwan Relations Act became law in 1979, Congress has played the leading role in the U.S.-Taiwan relationship,” said Senator Curtis. “This bill affirms that legacy by ensuring Congress has the information it needs to evaluate whether our military posture, industrial base, and alliances are sufficient to deter conflict and preserve peace in the Taiwan Strait.”
“As the Chinese Communist Party tries to exert more influence in the Indo-Pacific, the United States remains committed to defending our ally Taiwan and deterring China’s aggression. To do so, we need to make sure our military is ready and capable to meet its obligations to defend Taiwan. We cannot wait for the first shot to catch us unaware,” said Senator Cortez Masto.
Background:
The Taiwan Relations Act, which became law 47 years ago this week, mandates that the U.S. will provide Taiwan with defensive weapons and maintain the military capability to prevent China from using force to jeopardize Taiwan.
The Taiwan Relations Reinforcement Act mandates a comprehensive review of U.S. capabilities to ensure we can meet that requirement in an increasingly threatening world, including:
- Readiness to deter or respond to a potential invasion, blockade, or major strike against Taiwan;
- Resilience of U.S. forces, logistics, and supply chains in the Indo-Pacific;
- Capacity of the U.S. defense industrial base to sustain a prolonged conflict;
- Contributions from allies and partners to regional deterrence; and
- Risks posed by simultaneous global conflicts.
The bill also requires identification of capability gaps and recommendations for addressing shortfalls through budgetary, operational, and legislative changes over the coming years.
Importantly, the bill does not authorize the use of military force and does not alter existing statutory requirements under the Taiwan Relations Act. The legislation reflects growing bipartisan recognition of the importance of deterrence and strategic readiness in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
The full text of the bill is available here.
Senator Curtis recently led a bipartisan delegation to Taiwan to emphasize Congress’ leading role in the U.S.-Taiwan relationship and affirm American support for boosted defense spending and cooperation. Read more here.