Taiwan Relations Reinforcement Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced
Summary
Strengthen U.S.-Taiwan relations and counter coercion from the People's Republic of China (PRC). This bill would create a coordinated U.S. strategy to deepen diplomatic, economic, and security ties with Taiwan while protecting Taiwan and U.S. actors from PRC influence operations.
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- Promotes Taiwan's international participation and trade. It would push to expand Taiwan's role in international organizations and prioritize negotiations for a bilateral free-trade agreement that includes labor and environmental protections for Taiwan's more than 23 million people.
- Bolsters Taiwan's self-defense and regional deterrence. It would urge Taiwan to invest in asymmetric defense, invite Taiwan into high-level security dialogues and exercises, and require a 180-day joint assessment of military postures in the Taiwan Strait.
- Strengthens U.S. policy machinery and representation. It would create an interagency Taiwan Policy Task Force and set rules for the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director, including the title 'Representative' and a 60-day vacancy fill deadline.
- Protects businesses, media, and civil society from coercion. It would require a 90-day initial report and a 180-day bilateral strategy to counter "sharp power" such as disinformation, economic coercion, academic censorship, and targeted cyber intrusions.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
U.S. strategy to counter sharp power
If enacted, the State Department would first send Congress a report within 90 days on how to protect U.S. businesses and NGOs from PRC coercion. Within 180 days it would deliver a broader strategy on helping Taiwan resist PRC influence, disinformation, and election interference. The reports must describe censorship of U.S. businesses, PRC targeting of NGOs, counter‑disinformation steps, and a timetable for a code of conduct. After these reports, those elements would be folded into existing Taiwan-related congressionally required reports.
Interagency Taiwan task force and reports
If enacted, the President would create an Interagency Taiwan Policy Task Force within 90 days. The Task Force would include senior White House and Cabinet officials and would feed material into existing congressionally required Taiwan reports each year. The State and Defense Departments must also produce a joint report within 180 days assessing Taiwan and U.S. military posture and deterrence in the Taiwan Strait, and those findings would be folded into existing reports after a year.
Keep a senior U.S. representative in Taipei
If enacted, the President would appoint the American Institute in Taiwan Director with Senate approval and the position would carry the title 'Representative.' If the job is vacant more than 60 days, a senior Foreign Service Officer would be named acting Director until a new Director is confirmed.
More Taiwan participation and trade talks
If enacted, the U.S. would make it policy to invite Taiwan to high-level summits, multilateral forums, and military exercises. The bill would push to resume U.S.–Taiwan trade and investment talks and prioritize negotiating a bilateral free-trade agreement with strong labor and environmental rules. The State Department would also begin annual reporting, within a year, on China’s efforts to block Taiwan’s international participation and suggest U.S. responses.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
OR • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Curtis, John R. [R-UT]
UT • R
Sponsored 5/5/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov