US bill aims to boost arms transfer to Taiwan

INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATION:
The bill also encourages the United States and European countries to counter Chinese propaganda and false narratives about UN Resolution 2758.

US Senators Pete Ricketts and Jeanne Shaheen on Friday introduced a bill aimed at making it easier for Europe to transfer US-made weapons to Taiwan to encourage better cooperation between European countries and Taipei.

Ricketts, a Republican, and Shaheen, a Democrat, proposed the Building Options for the Lasting Security of Taiwan through European Resolve (BOLSTER) Act, which aims to create a mechanism for NATO countries in Europe to more easily transfer American equipment to support the defense of Taiwan. , Ricketts said in a statement.

The bill was launched after China launched a massive two-day military exercise around Taiwan on Thursday after President William Lai (賴清德) was sworn in on Monday.

The bill would require the U.S. Secretary of State to establish an expedited decision-making process for third-party transfers of defense aircraft and services from NATO countries to Taiwan less than 90 days after implementation of the legislation.

To prevent China from “occupying any territory controlled or administered by Taiwan”, “violating the territorial integrity of Taiwan” and “taking significant action against Taiwan”, such as a naval blockade or a cyberattack threatening infrastructure, the bill would require the head of the U.S. Office of Sanctions Coordination, in consultation with the director of the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control, to conduct regular discussions with the International Special Envoy for Sanctions Implementation EU and relevant government officials from European countries.

If the bill passes, the Secretary of State must, within 180 days, notify the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Armed Services of the United States Senate, the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services of the House representatives of the United States in discussions with NATO governments. European countries on their contributions to Taiwan's self-defense.

Contributions would include arms transfers and sales – particularly weapons compatible with an asymmetric defense strategy – and increasing the military presence of European NATO countries in the Indo-Pacific region, the draft says. of law.

Under the bill, the United States and European countries would discuss how to provide humanitarian aid to Taiwan in the event of a blockade, quarantine or military invasion by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA).

The bill would also require the US president to submit reports to the US Congress assessing the economic impact that Chinese military actions against Taiwan would have, including their effects on global trade, as well as a list of 10 economic sectors that would be most disrupted by a prolonged war. blockade of Taiwan by the PLA.

“All who believe in freedom and democracy, including our partners in Europe, must stand up to the PRC. [People’s Republic of China] assault. This means strengthening ties with Taiwan and ensuring [Chinese President] XI [Jinping, 習近平] understands that an attack on Taiwan would have serious consequences,” Ricketts said in a statement.

The bill also includes a “Sense of Congress” resolution that says the United States and European countries should counter Chinese propaganda and false narratives about UN Resolution 2758.

European countries, particularly those with experience countering Russian aggression and malign activities, could provide “Taiwan with lessons learned from their 'total defense' programs,” he says.

Resolution 2758 was adopted by the 26th United Nations General Assembly in 1971 to resolve the issue of China's representation in the United Nations system. This ultimately led Taiwan, officially named the Republic of China, to withdraw from the UN and take the place of the PRC.

The resolution adopted on October 25, 1971 recognizes the PRC as “the sole legitimate representative of China”, but it does not mention Taiwan, does not declare Taiwan to be part of the PRC, and does not explicitly authorize Beijing to represent Taiwan in China . the United Nations system.