Senator Kim Joins Bipartisan Effort to Reaffirm U.S. Commitments to Taiwan Defined by Law

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ahead of President Donald Trump’s summit with China’s President Xi Jinping in Beijing, Senator Andy Kim (D-N.J.) joined Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), John Curtis (R-Utah), and additional bipartisan Senate colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirming congressional support for the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) and underscoring that there should be no unilateral changes to this policy nor any new U.S. declaratory policy on Taiwan. The letter echoes Senator Kim’s vision for American foreign policy , which counters the Trump administration’s dangerous disengagement from America’s vital partnerships and alliances. The Senator instead emphasizes that American resilience is best secured by leaning into our long-standing partnerships, like that with Taiwan, in a way that better serves American economic and security interests. Senators Kim, Bennet, and Curtis were joined on this letter by Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). “For nearly five decades, the TRA has been the cornerstone of U.S.-Taiwan ties, enabling a strong and mutually beneficial relationship. This bipartisan law requires the United States to provide Taiwan – a critical economic and technological partner, and a thriving democracy – defense articles and services necessary to maintain the island’s self-defense capability. The TRA further states that the United States would consider any attempt to determine Taiwan’s future by non-peaceful means to be ‘a threat to the peace and security of the Western Pacific,’ and of ‘grave concern,’” wrote the senators. “Our commitment to this legislation has long helped ensure peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait — which is essential to U.S. interests there and across the Indo-Pacific. Maintaining this commitment is necessary to ensure the credibility of U.S. security commitments to allies and partners in the region and beyond,” continued the senators. “In the spirit of longstanding bipartisan support for the U.S.-Taiwan relationship, we stand ready to work with your administration to further strengthen this partnership,” concluded the senators. Read the full letter to Secretary Rubio. The letter builds on Senator Kim’s work to support Taiwan, a critical partner of the United States. Ahead of Trump’s Beijing summit this week, Senator Kim joined a bipartisan group of Senators in sending a letter urging President Trump to permit U.S. arms sales, pre-approved by Congress in January of last year, to Taiwan. Earlier this year, he helped lead the introduction of the bipartisan Taiwan Allies Fund Act to strengthen Taiwan’s global network as well as the Blue Skies for Taiwan Act that expands cooperation between the U.S. and Taiwan on the development of unmanned arial systems. ###