US Senate and House passed Taipei Act 2019

The US Senate passed legislation asking the government to help Taiwan keep its remaining 15 diplomatic allies, while supporting its international presence.  The legislation titled Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative Act of 2019, or TAIPEI Act 2019, was unanimously passed on Oct. 29, 2019.  The next day, the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee passed the bill unanimously.   The act, initiated by US Senator Cory Gardner, was introduced in May to express US support for Taiwan’s diplomatic alliances. In September last year, Gardner initiated TAIPEI Act 2018, but it failed to clear the Senate.   During the proceedings, Representative Steve Chabot (R-OH) said, "Taiwan is a critical ally in the Pacific and ought to be a role model for other nations across the globe."  Representative Ted Yoho (R-FL) echoed Chabot's sentiment and said that it was time for the U.S. to recognize Taiwan as a country, according to the report.  This year’s act authorizes the US Department of State to consider “reducing its economic, security and diplomatic engagements with nations that take serious or significant actions to undermine Taiwan.”  The US government should also help Taiwan gain participation in international organizations, either as a member or an observer, and express its support for Taiwan’s international participation when it interacts with Beijing, the act says.  The House will have its own version of the act.  Once it passes the House, a committee made up of both legislative bodies would work out differences between the two versions to come up with a single version before returning the bill to both bodies for approval.   The act would then be sent for the approval of US President Donald Trump, who would have 10 days to sign it into law, or veto it.