House Version of Taiwan Policy Act Introduced 美眾院版台灣政策法出爐 保留敏感條文

Republican Congressman Michael McCaul, the chair of the U.S. House of Representatives' Foreign Affairs Committee, led 36 Republican colleagues in introducing the House version of the Taiwan Policy Act of 2022. 

The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee recently passed its version of the Taiwan Policy Act of 2022. On Sept. 28, Republican Congressman Michael McCaul, the chair of the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, led 36 Republican colleagues in introducing the House version with the aim of strengthening Taiwan's defensive capabilities and modernizing U.S. policy towards Taiwan.

Michael McCaul, US Congressman (R): “The better Ukraine does against Russia, the less likely it is that Xi will invade Taiwan, so it's all sort of tied together, I'm in the middle of a tabletop exercise, when I go back up there to see what our plans are to respond to an invasion.”

Compared to the Senate version, the House version includes the new phrase "strategic clarity" and retains "renames TECRO as Taiwan Representative Office" and "elevates top U.S. diplomat in Taiwan with Senate confirmation." It also authorizes US$6.5 billion in foreign military financing over five fiscal years.

Joanne Ou, Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to maintain close contact with the U.S. Congress and U.S. executive branch. We look forward to continuing to win over friends in the U.S. Congress during this session and seeing legislative actions that will deepen the partnership of friendship between Taiwan and the U.S.”

Both versions mention strengthening military assistance for Taiwan. Scholars say this means that the U.S. wants Taiwan to first strengthen its self-defense capabilities, as otherwise it will be difficult to persuade Americans to support Taiwan.

Yen Chen-sheng, Adjunct Researcher, Inst. of Int'l Relations, NCCU: “It's saying your own government needs to help with weapon supply chains and resolve some issues. In addition, it's saying that Taiwan needs to defend itself since so much free stuff has been given to Taiwan.”

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris gave a speech aboard a U.S. Navy destroyer during a visit to the largest overseas U.S. Navy installation at Yokosuka. She used the opportunity to send a message to China.

Kamala Harris, US Vice President: “We will continue to oppose any unilateral change to the status quo. And we will continue to support Taiwan's self-defense, consistent with our long-standing policy.”

Harris denounced China for what she called "disturbing" actions in the Pacific and pledged that the U.S. will continue deepening "unofficial ties" with Taiwan.
 

繼美國參議院外交委員會通過《台灣政策法案》後，美國眾議院外交事務委員會主席麥考爾，與36名眾議院共和黨人，推出眾院版《台灣政策法案》，盼提升台灣防衛、更新美國對台政策。

美國眾議院外委會首席共和黨議員麥考爾表示：「烏克蘭對抗俄羅斯愈成功，習近平攻打台灣的可能性就降低。我後續會進行紙上推演，再看看如何回應攻打的情境。」

眾院版《台灣政策法案》，相較參議版本增加「戰略清晰」、保留「我駐美代表處更名台灣代表處」、維持AIT處長任命須由參院同意、同樣計劃未來5年提供台灣65億美元軍援。

外交部發言人歐江安說：「外交部會持續跟美國國會，還有美國行政部門緊密溝通，我們期待能夠在這個會期，持續爭取到美國國會的友人，以立法的行動來深化台灣跟美國友好的夥伴關係。」

參眾兩院版本都提及軍援台灣。學者分析，這意味著美國要台灣先強化自衛能力，否則難以說服內部支持台灣。

政大國關中心兼任研究員嚴震生認為：「等於是它自己政府幫忙軍火供應鏈，把一些東西給處理掉；另外一個呢，就是說既然免費送了這麼多給台灣的話，那就是你台灣可能他期待當中，台灣自己打。」

台海局勢升溫，賀錦麗28日在美國海軍海外最大基地日本橫須賀港內的軍艦上發表談話時，聚焦對中喊話。

美國副總統賀錦麗表示：「我們將繼續反對單方面改變現狀的任何行為，我們也會繼續支持台灣自我防衛，這符合我們長期以來的政策。」

賀錦麗譴責中國在太平洋「令人不安」的作為，並宣示華府將持續深化與台灣的非官方關係。