A bipartisan group of U.S. Representatives reintroduced the Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act on Tuesday local time, calling on the U.S. State Department to regularly review engagement policies of the U.S. with Taiwan. The bill, proposed by Republican Ann Wagner and Democrats Gerry Connolly and Ted Lieu, aims to strengthen U.S.-Taiwan cooperation, ensure a values-based relationship, and contribute to the peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues.
During the first term of the Trump administration, then Secretary of State Mike Pompeo removed restrictions on U.S.-Taiwan exchanges. While the Biden administration reinstated some, it also eased limits on official visits. The bill passed the House in 2023 but stalled in the Senate.
Taiwanese lawmakers expressed mixed reactions. DPP Legislator Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) welcomed the bill, saying that U.S. congressional support for Taiwan is now a bipartisan consensus. However, KMT Legislator Chen Yu-jen (陳玉珍) urged caution, warning against taking sides in U.S.-China competition. She says Taiwan should maintain stable ties with both the U.S. and China, like Singapore and the Philippines. Chen emphasizes that while deepening Taiwan-U.S. relations is a positive development, the government must handle the matter prudently to ensure that national interests are not adversely affected.