US House Revives Bill to Bolster Taiwan and Counter CCP Coercion

New Legislation Aims to Support Taiwan's International Standing and Shield Allies from Chinese Pressure.

In a significant move of solidarity, members of the US House of Representatives have reintroduced the Taiwan Allies Fund Act. This bill aims to fortify Taiwan's international presence and counteract coercive tactics employed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

The bill, spearheaded by US Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, ranking member of the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the US and the CCP, along with bipartisan support from representatives including John Moolenaar, Gregory Meeks, and Ted Lieu (劉雲平), was formally reintroduced on Tuesday. A companion bill is also underway in the US Senate, led by US senators Chris van Hollen, John Curtis, and Andy Kim.

The legislation proposes authorizing US$120 million in funding from next year through 2028. This financial assistance will be directed towards Taiwan's official and unofficial partners who are facing pressure or coercion from the CCP.

The funds will be allocated to countries that meet specific criteria. These include nations that "maintain official relations with Taiwan or have meaningfully strengthened unofficial relations with Taiwan" and "have been subject to coercion or pressure by the People’s Republic of China [PRC] due to their relations with Taiwan."

The bill stipulates that no single qualifying country can receive more than US$5 million in any fiscal year. The allocated funds will support various activities, including bolstering "the capacity and resilience of civil society, media and other non-governmental organizations in countering the influence and propaganda of the PRC."

To ensure efficient resource allocation and prevent redundancy, the bill mandates that the US Secretary of State collaborate with the director of the American Institute in Taiwan to coordinate efforts with relevant parties in Taiwan.

“China wants the world to turn a blind eye to its nefarious ambitions with Taiwan,” Curtis stated in the release. "We cannot allow nations to fall prey to China’s pressure campaigns, which is why we’ve introduced bipartisan legislation to counter China’s attempts to silence Taiwan’s allies. Our bill helps countries stand strong in the face of the CCP and strengthen their ties with Taiwan."

The Taiwan Allies Fund Act, previously introduced and cosponsored by Krishnamoorthi last year, did not advance due to stalling in the Senate.