S. 1588 — Taiwan Relations Reinforcement Act of 2025

This section states the sense of Congress that the U.S. government should continue strengthening cooperation with Taiwan under the Taiwan Relations Act and Six Assurances, considering China's military buildup and the security imbalance in the Taiwan Strait, including by—(1) promoting Taiwan's inclusion and meaningful participation—representing more than 23 million citizens—in international organizations, bilateral and multilateral security summits, military exercises, and economic dialogues and forums using U.S. diplomatic and financial tools; (2) urging Taiwan to increase investments in military capabilities supporting its asymmetric defense strategy; and (3) prioritizing negotiation of a free-trade agreement with Taiwan that includes high levels of labor rights and environmental protections as soon as possible to deepen economic ties.

This section declares it U.S. policy to create and execute a plan for enhancing the U.S.-Taiwan partnership to address 21st-century challenges while adhering to the Taiwan Relations Act and Six Assurances. The section directs the President, not later than 90 days after enactment, to consolidate existing interagency processes on Taiwan—including National Security Council-led and ad hoc efforts—into a new interagency Taiwan Policy Task Force comprising senior officials from the Office of the President, National Security Council, Departments of State, Defense, Treasury, and Commerce, and Office of the United States Trade Representative. The task force must contribute annually to congressionally mandated reports on U.S. policy and actions to strengthen relations with Taiwan, including those required under the Taiwan Enhanced Resilience Act (subtitle A of title XII of Public Law 117-263), TAIPEI Act (Public Law 116-135), and Taiwan Travel Act (Public Law 115-135).

This section requires the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to appoint the Director of the American Institute in Taiwan’s (AIT) Taipei office (i.e., the de facto U.S. ambassador to Taiwan) with the title of Representative. The section further requires any vacancy in the position to be filled within 60 days and directs the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, in consultation with the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, to appoint a senior Foreign Service Officer as acting Director if the position remains unfilled after 60 days.

This section declares it the policy of the United States to promote Taiwan’s inclusion and meaningful participation in meetings held by international organizations; directs the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other relevant U.S. officials to actively support such participation, including membership where applicable; and requires the Secretary of State, beginning one year after enactment of this Act, to annually report on China’s efforts to block Taiwan’s participation in the United Nations and other international bodies—including recommended U.S. responses—by incorporating the information into existing congressionally mandated reports required under the Taiwan Enhanced Resilience Act (subtitle A of title XII of Public Law 117–263), the Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative (TAIPEI) Act (Public Law 116–135), and the Taiwan Travel Act (Public Law 115–135).

This section establishes the policy of the United States (1) to invite Taiwan counterparts to participate in high-level bilateral and multilateral summits, military exercises, and economic dialogues and forums on issues of mutual concern; (2) for the United States government and Taiwan counterparts to resume meetings under the United States-Taiwan Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, the United States-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade, or other appropriate mechanisms to reach a bilateral free trade agreement; (3) to invite Taiwan to participate in bilateral and multilateral military training exercises; and (4) for the United States government and Taiwan counterparts to engage in regular strategic bilateral dialogue on arms sales in accordance with Foreign Military Sales mechanisms, with the United States government supporting export licenses for direct commercial sales supporting Taiwan’s indigenous defensive capabilities.

This section states congressional findings that PRC efforts to compel U.S. businesses and nongovernmental entities to use PRC-mandated language on Taiwan constitute political censorship; expresses the sense of Congress that the President develop a strategy to counter PRC sharp power operations (i.e., influence efforts threatening free speech and academic freedom) and censorship on Taiwan and other issues (e.g., Tibet, Tiananmen Square, Uyghurs); and establishes as U.S. policy opposition to any PRC unilateral timetable for unification with Taiwan. This section further prohibits any U.S. department or agency from recognizing PRC sovereignty claims over Taiwan without the assent of the Taiwanese people via democratic process; directs the Department of State and other agencies to treat Taiwan's democratically elected government as the legitimate representative of its people, without restrictions on direct and routine official interactions (notwithstanding the American Institute in Taiwan's supporting role and without restoring diplomatic relations terminated January 1, 1979); and requires the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretaries of Commerce and Treasury and other agency heads, to submit to Congress within 90 days of enactment an unclassified report (with classified annex if necessary) on a strategy to protect U.S. businesses and nongovernmental entities from PRC coercion and sharp power, including information on PRC censorship of U.S. businesses, targeting of nongovernmental entities, U.S. counter-propaganda efforts, and a code of conduct. This section also requires the Secretary of State to incorporate the report's elements into subsequent congressionally mandated reports beginning one year after the initial submission, including those under the Taiwan Enhanced Resilience Act, TAIPEI Act, and Taiwan Travel Act.

This section directs the Secretary of State, not later than 180 days after enactment, to submit to the appropriate congressional committees (1) a report on existing U.S. efforts supporting the Taiwan government's countering of sharp power operations by the People's Republic of China (PRC) and Chinese Communist Party (CCP)—including assistance to build capacity among Taiwan officials, media, and private-sector entities to expose PRC/CCP propaganda and malign influence; aid for Taiwan's whole-of-government strategy against such operations, including election interference; exchanges to strengthen Taiwan's legal responses; assessments of PRC/CCP influence attempts on Taiwan political parties, financial institutions, media, and other entities and their success; and collaboration by like-minded governments—and (2) a strategy, developed with relevant federal agencies and international partners, to identify remaining vulnerabilities in Taiwan's efforts and provide targeted assistance.

This section requires the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense, not later than 180 days after enactment, to submit to the appropriate congressional committees a joint report assessing U.S. and Taiwan military posture with respect to deterring military conflict and ensuring readiness in the Taiwan Strait, including analysis of whether current policies sufficiently deter non-peaceful efforts to determine Taiwan's future in light of the changing military balance. Beginning one year after submission of that report, it further directs the Secretary of State to incorporate the report's elements into existing congressionally mandated reports under the Taiwan Enhanced Resilience Act (subtitle A of title XII of Public Law 117-263), the Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative (TAIPEI) Act (Public Law 116-135), and the Taiwan Travel Act (Public Law 115-135).

This section defines, for purposes of the Act, (1) "appropriate congressional committees" as the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and (2) "sharp power" as the coordinated and often concealed application of disinformation, media manipulation, economic coercion, cyber-intrusions, targeted investments, and academic censorship intended (A) to corrupt political and nongovernmental institutions, interfere in democratic elections, and encourage self-censorship of views at odds with those of the Government of the People's Republic of China or the Chinese Communist Party; or (B) to foster attitudes, behavior, decisions, or outcomes in Taiwan and elsewhere that support the interests of that government or party.