U.S. House Passes Bill Supporting Taiwan’s IMF Membership
On June 23, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed the Taiwan Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 910) — a bipartisan bill led by Representatives Young Kim (R-CA) and Al Green (D-TX) — to support Taiwan’s return to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), underscoring Taiwan’s vital role in the global economy.
The legislation stipulates that the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, who also serves as the U.S. Governor to the IMF, should “vigorously support the admission of Taiwan as a member” in the institution.
The bill also calls for Taiwan’s participation in the IMF’s regular surveillance activities, the inclusion of Taiwanese nationals in IMF employment opportunities, and Taiwan’s access to IMF technical assistance and training.
The IMF, which has 191 member states, promotes global financial stability and economic growth by providing financial assistance, policy advice, and economic surveillance to its members. Despite losing its seat at the United Nations in 1971, Taiwan remained a member of the IMF until 1980.
“Taiwan — the 21st largest economy in the world and producer of 90 percent of the world’s advanced semiconductor chip supply — doesn’t just deserve a seat at the table at the IMF. The free world needs Taiwan at the IMF,” said Congresswoman Kim in a press release. “We cannot be complicit as international organizations cede leverage to Beijing and silence Taiwan’s voice,” she added.
Congressman Green called support for Taiwan’s participation in the IMF a “commonsense, bipartisan measure” that “furthers the long-term interests of both Taiwan and the U.S.” “Taiwan’s expertise developing one of the largest and most complex economies in the world would bring a valuable perspective to multilateral economic organizations,” he said.
A Senate companion bill (S. 1900) was introduced on May 22 by Senators Dave McCormick (R-PA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).
Sources:
[1] Rep. Young Kim’s Office
[2] Focus Taiwan
[3] Taipei Times
Senior U.S. Military Officials Warn of China’s Growing Missile Threat to Taiwan
On June 26, at a hearing before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, senior U.S. Air Force and Space Force officials warned of China’s expanding missile capabilities and its development of a sophisticated “kill web,” noting that Taiwan and the surrounding regions are well within range of these missiles.
In a posture statement to Congress, Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink, Chief of Staff of the Air Force General David Allvin, and Chief of Space Operations General Chance Saltzman said the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has deployed more than 900 short-range ballistic missiles capable of striking Taiwan, along with 400 ground-launched cruise missiles that can reach targets throughout the entire First Island Chain.
The First Island Chain refers to the first group of islands off the eastern coast of continental Asia, encompassing Japan, Taiwan, parts of the Philippines, and Indonesia, and is widely viewed as a strategic line of defense against China.
The officials also noted that China possesses 1,300 medium-range ballistic missiles capable of reaching the Second Island Chain, 500 intermediate-range missiles that can strike parts of Alaska and Australia, and more than 400 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable of delivering nuclear weapons globally.
A key concern, the officials said, is China’s deployment of a sophisticated “kill web” — an integrated network of satellites and sensors that enables the PLA to detect, track, and rapidly strike military targets across multiple domains, including Taiwan.
“My biggest concern is that the ‘kill web’. . . that the People’s Republic of China has put in place allows them to track and target at great range the rest of the joint force and all the other domains,” Saltzman said at the hearing.
Sources:
[1] U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee
[2] Focus Taiwan
NATO Chief Cites China’s “Massive” Military Buildup and Escalating Threat to Taiwan
On June 23, ahead of the 2025 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit in The Hague, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte expressed concern over Taiwan’s security situation amid China’s “massive military buildup.”
Speaking at a press conference, Rutte emphasized that regional partners with close ties to NATO — such as Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand — also share growing alarm over Beijing’s accelerating militarization.
He pointed out that three to five Chinese defense firms now rank among the world’s top 10, depending on the methodology used — whereas none appeared on such lists just a few years ago.
Referring to a worst-case scenario in which China invades Taiwan and the United States intervenes under its obligations in the Taiwan Relations Act, Rutte warned that NATO, as an alliance, would have no “opt-out” option.
He warned that China would likely ensure its partner Russia “keep us busy here [in Europe]” if Beijing tries anything with Taiwan.
“That is one of the reasons why we have to stand ready, and we cannot be naive,” he said. “That is why that extra defense spending is so important.”
Rutte predicted that NATO allies will meet the 2014 benchmark of investing 2 percent of GDP in defense this year.
However, a new baseline of 5 percent of GDP will be introduced at the summit. NATO members will have until 2035 to meet this target, which includes both direct defense spending and defense-related investments.
“This is a quantum leap that is ambitious, historic, and fundamental to securing our future,” Rutte added.
