U.S. Senate committee to review 4 Taiwan-related bills next week

Washington, Jan. 20 (CNA) The United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations will review four Taiwan-related bills on Jan. 29 covering "sovereignty symbols," energy security, undersea cable protection and support for Taiwan's partners.

The four measures are the Taiwan Symbols of Sovereignty Act, the Taiwan Energy Security and Anti-Embargo Act, the Taiwan Undersea Cable Resilience Initiative Act, and the Taiwan Allies Fund Act, according to the committee's website.

The Taiwan Symbols of Sovereignty Act was introduced in October by Republican Senator Ted Cruz and other lawmakers to lift restrictions dating back to the Barack Obama administration that prohibit Taiwanese diplomats and military personnel from displaying sovereignty symbols during official visits to the U.S.

Under the proposal, the U.S. secretary of state and the secretary of defense would be required to allow armed forces members and government representatives of the Republic of China (Taiwan) or the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO) to display symbols of sovereignty, such as the national flag and military unit insignia, while on official business in the U.S.

The second bill, the bipartisan Taiwan Energy Security and Anti-Embargo Act, focuses on Taiwan's dependence on imported energy and its vulnerability to coercion by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

The bill authorizes expanded U.S. exports of liquefied natural gas to Taiwan, support for Taiwan's energy infrastructure, encouragement of nuclear energy use, and measures to ensure sufficient and continuous energy deliveries to Taiwan during emergencies.

The third bipartisan proposal, the Taiwan Undersea Cable Resilience Initiative Act, is aimed at protecting Taiwan's critical communications infrastructure and deterring China's gray zone activities.

Noting that 99 percent of Taiwan's internet bandwidth relies on undersea cables, the bill would require the U.S. secretary of state to lead efforts to strengthen cable security around Taiwan.

That would entail coordinating navy cooperation with Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration, providing intelligence warnings, and imposing sanctions on those who damage undersea cables, the bill says.

Finally, the Taiwan Allies Fund Act would authorize the executive branch to establish a fund totaling US$120 million over three years to assist Taiwan's diplomatic allies and unofficial partners facing pressure from the CCP.

Eligible countries would need to meet such criteria as maintaining diplomatic ties with Taiwan or significantly strengthening unofficial relations as well as facing Chinese coercion due to Taiwan ties, but being unable to respond effectively to such pressure without U.S. support.

After approval by the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, the bills would still require passage by the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives and the signature of the president to take effect.