El Salvador should not receive any funds from the American government in the upcoming federal defense appropriations package, said U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO), who seeks retaliation against the South American country for its plans to end international relations with Taiwan.
“El Salvador has made the wrong decision regarding Taiwan, and it will negatively influence United States relations with El Salvador,” said Sen. Gardner, chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy.
El Salvador on Aug. 20 became the third Latin American country in the past two years to switch its alliance from Taiwan to China, and attributed its decision to a need for more investments, as well as wanting to improve the Taiwanese economy.
The United States also is deeply disappointed by El Salvador’s decision to break diplomatic ties with Taiwan, according to Jean Manes, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of El Salvador.
“The United States is analyzing #ElSalvador’s decision. It is worrisome for many reasons, including breaking a relationship of more than 80 years with #Taiwan. This will certainly impact our relationship with the government. We continue to support the Salvadoran people,” she tweeted on Aug. 20.
On Aug. 21, Sen. Gardner introduced Senate Amendment (S.Amdt.) 3808, which would provide zero dollars from any of the federal monies that will be authorized in the final Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2019, H.R. 6157.
“This amendment will send a direct message to Taiwan’s allies that the United States will use every tool to support Taiwan’s standing on the international stage and will stand up to China’s bullying tactics across the world,” the senator said.
S.Amdt. 3808 is cosponsored by U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, And Global Women’s Issues.
“It is extremely disappointing that El Salvador chose to sever diplomatic relations with democratic Taiwan and embrace communist China,” said Sen. Rubio. “This is a grave mistake that harms relations with the U.S., and will likely prove to be costly and short-sighted given what we know about China’s ‘debt traps’ and economic exploitation globally.”
Sen. Gardner said he appreciated Sen. Rubio’s efforts to work with him on the bill and he urged congressional members that it “be included in the final bill.”
The U.S. House on June 28 approved the defense minibus appropriations package, and H.R. 6157 advanced to the Senate, where a cloture motion on the measure was presented on Aug. 21 — meaning approval of the measure, including the amendment, could come soon.