[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 249 Engrossed in Senate (ES)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 249
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to regain
observer status for Taiwan in the World Health Organization, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. PARTICIPATION OF TAIWAN IN THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized
agency of the United Nations, charged with coordinating health
efforts within the United Nations system. The World Health
Assembly (WHA) is the decision-making body of the WHO, which
convenes annually in May to set the policies and priorities of
the organization. Statehood is not a requirement for attendance
at the WHA, and numerous observers, including non-members and
non-governmental organizations, attended the most recent WHA in
May 2018.
(2) Taiwan began seeking to participate in the WHO as an
observer in 1997. In 2009, with strong support from successive
United States Administrations, Congress, and like-minded WHO
Member States, and during a period of improved Cross-Strait
relations, Taiwan received an invitation to attend the WHA as
an observer under the name ``Chinese Taipei''. Taiwan received
the same invitation each year until 2016, when following the
election of President Tsai-Ing Wen of the Democratic
Progressive Party, Taiwan's engagement in the international
community began facing increased resistance from the People's
Republic of China (PRC). Taiwan's invitation to the 2016 WHA
was received late and included new language conditioning
Taiwan's participation on the PRC's ``one China principle''. In
2017 and 2018, Taiwan did not receive an invitation to the WHA.
(3) Taiwan remains a model contributor to world health,
having provided financial and technical assistance to respond
to numerous global health challenges. Taiwan has invested over
$6,000,000,000 in international medical and humanitarian aid
efforts impacting over 80 countries since 1996. In 2014, Taiwan
responded to the Ebola crisis by donating $1,000,000 and
providing 100,000 sets of personal protective equipment.
Through the Global Cooperation and Training Framework, the
United States and Taiwan have jointly conducted training
programs for experts to combat MERS, Dengue Fever, and Zika.
These diseases know no borders, and Taiwan's needless exclusion
from global health cooperation increases the dangers presented
by global pandemics.
(4) Taiwan's international engagement has faced increased
resistance from the PRC. Taiwan was not invited to the 2016
Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO), despite participating as a guest at the organization's
prior summit in 2013. Taiwan's requests to participate in the
General Assembly of the International Criminal Police
Organization (INTERPOL) have also been rejected. In May 2017,
PRC delegates disrupted a meeting of the Kimberley Process on
conflict diamonds held in Perth, Australia, until delegates
from Taiwan were asked to leave. Since 2016, the Democratic
Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, the Republic of Panama, the
Solomon Islands, the Republic of Kiribati, the Dominican
Republic, Burkina Faso, and the Republic of El Salvador have
terminated longstanding diplomatic relationships with Taiwan
and granted diplomatic recognition to the PRC.
(5) Congress has established a policy of support for
Taiwan's participation in international bodies that address
shared transnational challenges, particularly in the WHO.
Congress passed H.R. 1794 in the 106th Congress, H.R. 428 in
the 107th Congress, and S. 2092 in the 108th Congress to direct
the Secretary of State to establish a strategy for, and to
report annually to Congress on, efforts to obtain observer
status for Taiwan at the WHA. Congress also passed H.R. 1151 in
the 113th Congress, directing the Secretary to report on a
strategy to gain observer status for Taiwan at the ICAO
Assembly, and H.R. 1853 in the 114th Congress, directing the
Secretary to report on a strategy to gain observer status for
Taiwan at the INTERPOL Assembly. However, since 2016 Taiwan has
not received an invitation to attend any of these events as an
observer.
(b) Augmentation of Report Concerning the Participation of Taiwan
in the World Health Organization.--
(1) In general.--Subsection (c) of section 1 of Public Law
108-235 (118 Stat. 656) is amended by adding at the end the
following new paragraph:
``(3) An account of the changes and improvements the
Secretary of State has made to the United States plan to
endorse and obtain observer status for Taiwan at the World
Health Assembly, following any annual meetings of the World
Health Assembly at which Taiwan did not obtain observer
status.''.
(2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1)
shall take effect and apply beginning with the first report
required under subsection (c) of section 1 of Public Law 108-
235 that is submitted after the date of the enactment of this
Act.
SEC. 2. BRIEFING ON UNITED STATES STRATEGY REGARDING TAIWAN'S
INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION.
(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter for three years,
the Secretary of State, or the Secretary's designee, shall provide to
the appropriate congressional committees a briefing on actions taken by
the United States to reaffirm and strengthen Taiwan's official and
unofficial diplomatic relationships.
(b) Elements.--The briefing required by subsection (a) shall
include the following elements:
(1) A description of the actions taken by the United States
commencing May 20, 2016, to consult with governments around the
world, including the governments that maintain official
diplomatic relations with Taiwan, with the purpose of inducing
those governments to maintain official diplomatic relations
with Taiwan or otherwise strengthen unofficial relations with
Taiwan.
(2) An enumeration of specific countries of concern, if
any, and a description of the actions taken, or actions
anticipated, by those governments, commencing May 20, 2016, to
alter the formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan or to otherwise
downgrade official or unofficial relations.
(3) A plan of action to engage with the governments of the
countries identified in paragraphs (1) and (2) and increase
cooperation with respect to Taiwan.
(c) Appropriate Congressional Committees.--In this section, the
term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives.
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ASIA REASSURANCE
INITIATIVE ACT.
It is the sense of Congress that the full and timely implementation
of section 209 of the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act (Public Law 115-
409), which reiterates longstanding bipartisan United States policy, is
critical to demonstrate United States support for Taiwan.
Passed the Senate May 11, 2020.
Attest:
Secretary.
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 249
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to regain
observer status for Taiwan in the World Health Organization, and for
other purposes.