Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act
The Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act would amend the existing Taiwan guidance framework within the Department of State (DoS) by adding a formal, regular review and reporting process. Specifically, it requires the Secretary of State to conduct a comprehensive review of the DoS guidance that governs relations with Taiwan at least every five years and to issue updated guidance. Within 90 days of completing each such review, the Secretary must send an updated report to Congress (specifically the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs) detailing how the updated guidance meets the stated goals and objectives and including the information already required by the current guidance. In short, the bill creates a standing, multi-year cycle to reassess and publicly report on U.S. guidance toward Taiwan, increasing transparency and congressional oversight of Taiwan-related policy documents and instructions issued by the DoS.
Key Points
- 1Adds a new subsection (d) to Section 315 of the Taiwan Assurance Act of 2020 establishing periodic reviews of DoS Taiwan guidance.
- 2Requires reviews at least once every five years and reissuance of updated guidance to all executive branch departments and agencies.
- 3Mandates a 90-day window for submitting an updated report to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs after each review.
- 4Updated reports must include: (a) all information required by the existing guidance (subsection (c)) and (b) a description of how the updated guidance meets the goals and objectives described in the bill’s related provisions (subsection (b)).
- 5The bill codifies the short title as the Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act and places oversight emphasis on DoS guidance regarding Taiwan.