Gardner’s TAIPEI Act becomes law; State Department pledges compliance

U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) on Tuesday commended U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for pledging to comply with his newly enacted law regarding Taiwan’s international diplomatic relationships.

Sen. Gardner sponsored the bipartisan Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative (TAIPEI) Act, S. 1678, with lead cosponsor U.S. Sen. Christopher Coons (D-DE), which requires the State Department to annually report to Congress on steps it takes to help strengthen Taiwan’s global diplomatic relationships and partnerships, according to the congressional record bill summary.

President Donald Trump signed S. 1678 into law on March 26 and Secretary Pompeo said he would “fully comply” with it, according to Sen. Gardner’s office, which noted that the Secretary also said the United States will “do our best to assist” Taiwan’s “appropriate role” in the World Health Organization (WHO).

“I applaud Secretary Pompeo’s remarks about Taiwan’s role in the WHO and the implementation of the TAIPEI Act,” said Sen. Gardner, chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy.

Currently, China is pressuring international organizations to exclude Taiwan from organizations, like the WHO, as well as the International Civil Aviation Organization and the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), according to the senator’s statement.

“Taiwan’s participation in the WHO is more important today than ever as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) hides the truth about COVID-19 and seeks to isolate Taiwan globally from other international organizations,” Sen. Gardner said. “The United States must use every available policy tool to ensure that the CCP never has veto power over Taiwan’s important role as global force for good.”

The TAIPEI Act requires a U.S. strategy to engage with governments around the world to support Taiwan’s diplomatic recognition or to strengthen unofficial ties with Taiwan, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Gardner’s office.

Additionally, the new law articulates a clear U.S. policy to support Taiwan’s participation in appropriate international organizations and calls on the Trump administration to enhance economic cooperation with Taiwan, the summary says.