H.R. 3452 — Six Assurances to Taiwan Act

This section states 13 congressional findings concerning U.S. policy toward Taiwan, including that Taiwan is a free democracy of over 23 million people and a key U.S. economic partner; the PRC has not renounced force to subjugate Taiwan; and U.S. policy is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, three U.S.-China Joint Communiqués, and the Six Assurances. It details 1982 Reagan Administration statements by Under Secretary Lawrence Eagleburger, Secretary George Shultz, and Assistant Secretary John H. Holdridge articulating the Six Assurances—(1) no set date for ending arms sales to Taiwan, (2) no prior consultations with the PRC on arms sales, (3) no U.S. mediation role between Taiwan and the PRC, (4) no revision to the Taiwan Relations Act, (5) no change in the U.S. position on Taiwan sovereignty, and (6) no U.S. pressure on Taiwan to negotiate with the PRC—and references subsequent congressional resolutions and laws (e.g., Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018, Taiwan Assurance Act of 2020, and National Defense Authorization Acts for FY2019–FY2025) reaffirming these principles.

This section states the sense of Congress that (1) maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait serves U.S. political, security, and economic interests and constitutes a matter of international concern; (2) any unilateral change to the status quo or negotiated settlement on Taiwan's status without the consent of both sides of the Strait is unacceptable; (3) Taiwan's future must be determined by peaceful means; and (4) the Six Assurances (i.e., six U.S. policy commitments to Taiwan reaffirmed in 1982, including no mediation between Taiwan and China) constitute a stabilizing component of U.S. policy toward Taiwan.

This section declares it to be the policy of the United States to reaffirm that, in the context of the 1982 Joint Communiqué, the United States—(1) did not agree to set a date for ending arms sales to Taiwan; (2) did not agree to consult with the People's Republic of China on arms sales to Taiwan; (3) did not and will not agree to play any mediation role; (4) did not agree to revise the Taiwan Relations Act; (5) did not take any position regarding the issue of sovereignty over Taiwan; and (6) will not exert pressure on Taiwan to enter into negotiations with the People's Republic of China.

This section establishes a congressional review process for specified presidential actions relating to the Six Assurances to Taiwan (i.e., six 1982 U.S. commitments to Taiwan affirming continued defensive arms sales, no pressure on Taiwan to negotiate with China, no U.S. mediation on Taiwan's sovereignty, no preset limit on arms sales, no U.S. interest in Taiwan's future beyond its self-determination, and no U.S. recognition of PRC sovereignty over Taiwan). (1) Prior to pausing or terminating defensive arms sales to Taiwan; negotiating with the PRC on such sales; mediating Taiwan-PRC sovereignty issues; altering the U.S. position on Taiwan's sovereignty; or pressuring Taiwan to negotiate with the PRC, the President must notify the appropriate congressional committees and leadership with a description of the action, reasons, and whether it significantly alters U.S. policy toward Taiwan or the PRC (including, if so, the alteration's effects on U.S. economic/national security interests and Taiwan sovereignty). (2) Congress has 30 calendar days to review via hearings and briefings (60 days for notifications submitted July 10–September 7), during which no appropriated funds may advance the action absent enactment of a joint resolution of approval. (3) If a joint resolution of disapproval passes both Houses, funds are frozen for 12 days (or 10 days post-veto during reconsideration); enactment of disapproval permanently bars the action and related spending. (4) Joint resolutions of approval or disapproval follow prescribed titles and language introduced under fast-track procedures specified in subsection (c).

This section provides a severability clause, stating that the invalidity of any provision of the Act, or its application to any person or circumstance, does not affect the remainder of the Act or the application of that provision to other persons or circumstances.