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Washington, July 15 (CNA) A United States congressional committee on Thursday passed the Ensuring American Global Leadership and Engagement (EAGLE) Act, a legislative package that includes several bills aimed at bolstering the diplomatic, security and economic ties with Taiwan.
The EAGLE Act was passed by the House Foreign Affairs Committee by a vote of 26-22, following four days of debates and votings.
The act was introduced by Democratic Representative Gregory Meeks, chairman of the committee, on May 25 to “revitalize and reassert U.S. leadership, investment, and engagement in the Indo-Pacific region and globally” to counter China’s growing ambitions.
In the EAGLE Act, several pro-Taiwan bills have also been incorporated, including the Taiwan Diplomatic Review Act, Taiwan Peace and Stability Act, and the Taiwan International Solidarity Act.
One of the clauses in the Taiwan International Solidarity Act notes that the United Nations (U.N.) recognition of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) did not address the issue of Taiwan’s representation at the U.N., nor take a position on the relationship between the PRC and Taiwan or Taiwan’s sovereignty.
“The United States opposes any initiative that seeks to change Taiwan’s status without the consent of the people,” the clause says.
Some other Taiwan-related sections worth noting are the Taiwan Diplomatic Review, and Enhancing the United States-Taiwan Partnership.
The former asks the U.S. secretary of state to seek negotiations on renaming the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) — Taiwan’s representative office in the U.S. — into the Taiwan Representative Office in the United States.
The latter act, meanwhile, seeks to reiterate the U.S. commitment to Taiwan and recognize Taiwan as a vital part of the U.S. strategy in the Indo-Pacific.
In a statement issued Thursday, Meeks said the bill ensures “that America will once again lead on the world stage, strengthening our alliances, and expanding our diplomatic and economic footprint across the world to out-compete China.”
“Leadership guided by American values is central to the EAGLE Act, including the most robust provisions to date for responding to the PRC’s genocide of Uyghurs, and bolstering our diplomatic, security and economic ties with Taiwan,” Meeks said.
The act also provides “temporary protected status and asylum to Hong Kongers, who have seen their autonomy destroyed by the Chinese government,” he added.
The EAGLE Act is expected to be reviewed by the full House before it will be voted on by both chambers of Congress and to be signed into law by the U.S. president.
(By Stacy Hsu and Ko Lin)
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