S. 2684: United States-Taiwan Partnership in the Americas Act

This bill, known as the United States-Taiwan Partnership in the Americas Act, aims to support countries in Latin America and the Caribbean that have official diplomatic relations with Taiwan. The primary goal is to counter the influence of the People's Republic of China (PRC), which has been pressuring these nations to cut ties with Taiwan. Here are the key components of the bill:

Policy Support

• The U.S. seeks to support countries that maintain diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
• It aims to counteract PRC efforts to coerce these governments into severing their relations with Taiwan.
• The bill promotes deeper coordination with Taiwan concerning diplomatic, development, and economic matters in the Western Hemisphere.

Monitoring Economic Influence

The bill mandates that the Secretary of State establish a system to monitor PRC infrastructure and development projects in countries that recognize Taiwan. This system will:

• Identify projects that pose strategic risks or involve non-transparent financing.
• Coordinate appropriate U.S. responses to such projects.
• Share relevant information with Congress and U.S. allies.

Reporting Requirements

To ensure transparency and accountability, the bill requires several types of reports:

• A semiannual status report detailing any governments that may be ending their diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
• A diplomatic engagement plan within 30 days if a government shows intent to terminate ties with Taiwan.
• An annual report that assesses PRC goals in Latin America, pressure tactics used against Taiwan’s allies, and actions taken by the U.S. State Department to implement the objectives of the bill.

Taiwan–Americas Strategic Coordination

The Secretary of State is encouraged to enhance coordination with Latin American and Caribbean countries regarding Taiwan. This includes:

• Coordinating joint programs and technical cooperation with U.S. allies.
• Aligning public diplomatic efforts.
• Encouraging collaboration between U.S. embassies and Taiwan's representative offices in the region.

Findings

The bill outlines certain findings that justify its creation:

• It recognizes Taiwan as a democratic partner of the U.S. that shares values related to transparency, governance, and human rights.
• It acknowledges the PRC's pressure on Taiwan's remaining diplomatic allies through opaque development deals.
• It emphasizes U.S. interest in supporting sovereign decision-making in the region, free from PRC coercion.

Implications

If enacted, this legislation could enhance U.S. diplomatic efforts in the Western Hemisphere, particularly aimed at countries that face pressure from the PRC regarding their relationship with Taiwan. This could result in increased cooperation and support for these countries in various sectors, including infrastructure development and economic activities.

Relevant Companies

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