U.S. House Passes Taiwan Conflict Deterrence Act as Warning to CCP
On September 9, the U.S. House passed the “Taiwan Conflict Deterrence Act” (H.R.554), which aims to deter Chinese aggression toward Taiwan by publishing the assets of top People’s Republic of China (PRC) officials, as well as cutting them and their immediate family off from the U.S. financial system, if China attacks Taiwan.
This bipartisan bill was introduced in January 2023 by U.S. Representatives French Hill (R-AR) and Brad Sherman (D-CA). It passed the House unanimously on September 9, 2024.
If the U.S. President determines that a Chinese threat against Taiwan exists, the bill requires the U.S. Department of the Treasury to report to Congress on funds held by senior Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials, including how they were acquired.
The treasury must then prohibit significant transactions between U.S. financial institutions and those top CCP officials, and potentially their immediate family members, with allowance for exceptions.
“If China chooses to attack the free people of Taiwan, [the bill] requires the Treasury secretary to publish the illicit assets of Beijing’s senior-most leaders, including the names of financial institutions and maintaining accounts,” Rep. Hill said.
“Let these corrupt [CCP] officials explain to ordinary Chinese citizens how they acquired their riches on a government salary,” he added.
“This bill goes beyond just naming and shaming. It will also cut off access to the U.S. financial system for those CCP officials and their immediate family,” Hill said.
Rep. Sherman said that the bill “is designed to put the government of China on notice that the United States is closely watching its increasing threats toward Taiwan.”
The measures stipulated in this bill would only be triggered if the U.S. President exercised the authority under Section 3(c) of the Taiwan Relations Act, Sherman said, adding that “it’s important to put Beijing on notice of what would happen if their threats against Taiwan raised to that level.”
“It is time for China to give up the idea of intimidating the people of Taiwan and to recognize that America’s response will involve the military, will involve broad-based economic response, and will involve very personal economic disclosures and response. That is the way to prevent what could cause an incredible disruption in the world and even possibly a world war,” Sherman added.
References:
[1] Focus Taiwan
[2] Taipei Times
U.S. House Passes Pacific Partnership Act to Strengthen Ties with Taiwan and Other Pacific Partners
On September 9, the U.S. House unanimously passed the “Pacific Partnership Act” (H.R.7159), which aims to strengthen U.S. engagement with Taiwan, other Pacific partners, and regional institutions like the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).
Introduced by U.S. Rep. Ed Case (D-HI) early this year, the Act emphasizes the importance of U.S. collaboration with key allies and partners in the Pacific Islands region, including Australia, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, and Taiwan, as well as regional organizations, such as the PIF.
The Act requires the U.S. President and the U.S. Secretary of State to develop a Pacific partnership strategy, focusing on the region’s vulnerabilities to threats such as foreign military actions, economic coercion, corruption, and natural disasters.
The Pacific Islands Forum, which is mentioned multiple times in this bill, has become a diplomatic flashpoint between Taiwan and China. The South Pacific has long been a contested area of influence for both nations, with the PIF as a critical platform.
Last month in August, Taiwan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Tien Chung-kwang attended the PIF, as did Chinese Special Envoy for Pacific Island Countries Affairs Qian Bo.
Reports indicated that the Solomon Islands, now aligned with Beijing, sought to block Taiwan’s participation in future forums.
Due to pressure from China, a paragraph reaffirming Taiwan’s participation status was reportedly removed from the PIF communique originally published on August 30. When the communique was republished on August 31, the Taiwan reference was no longer included.
During discussions on the Pacific Partnership Act, Delegate Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-American Samoa) said that the Chinese influence was growing in the region, pointing to China’s 2022 security agreement with the Solomon Islands.
Radewagen stressed that the bill calls for coordinated U.S. efforts with allies to ensure effective aid programs in the Pacific without duplication.
References:
[1] Focus Taiwan
[2] Taipei Times
[3] Taipei Times
U.S.-EU Joint Statement Backs Taiwan, Calls for China to Show Restraint
On September 11, the U.S. and the European Union (EU) issued a joint statement supporting Taiwan’s international participation, notably omitting the “One China policy” in a departure from previous similar statements, following high-level talks on China and the Indo-Pacific region.
The statement also urged China to show restraint in the Taiwan Strait.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and European External Action Service Secretary General Stefano Sannino co-chaired the seventh U.S.-EU Dialogue on China and the sixth U.S.-EU Indo-Pacific Consultations from September 9 to 10.
Since the Indo-Pacific consultations were launched in 2021, references to the “One China policy” have appeared in every statement apart from the one released in April 2022, and another just issued on September 11, 2024.
In the latest statement, the U.S. and EU emphasized the need for peace in the Taiwan Strait, rejecting unilateral changes to the “status quo,” particularly through force.
The U.S. and EU stressed the importance of maintaining open communication with China while engaging in fair competition and pursuing diplomacy on common interests and disagreements.
They urged China to uphold international law, stressing that any peace plan must respect sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Condemning China’s actions in the East and South China seas, the U.S. and the EU reiterated the importance of freedom of navigation and the peaceful resolution of disputes.
The statement highlighted continued U.S.-EU cooperation on Indo-Pacific security, including joint maritime operations and a roundtable to be held at the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
