United States - Taiwan Partnership in the Americas Act

Bill Number

S. 2684

Origin Chamber

Senate

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

International Affairs

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-10-30: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 242.

Last Updated

2026-05-19T11:03:44Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The bill, titled the "United States-Taiwan Partnership in the Americas Act," aims to bolster support for Latin American and Caribbean countries that maintain official diplomatic relations with Taiwan. It seeks to counteract coercive actions by the People's Republic of China (PRC) aimed at severing those ties and to increase U.S. coordination with Taiwan on diplomatic, development, and economic initiatives in the Western Hemisphere.

Key Provisions

• Findings (Section 2): Recognizes Taiwan as a key democratic ally of the U.S., notes the PRC's pressure on Taiwan's seven remaining diplomatic partners in Latin America and the Caribbean through opaque deals and undue influence, and emphasizes U.S. interests in promoting sovereign foreign policy choices free from PRC coercion or financial manipulation.

• Statement of Policy (Section 3): Establishes U.S. policy to:
• Support nations in the region that keep diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
• Oppose PRC efforts to force those nations to break relations.
• Enhance U.S.-Taiwan collaboration on development and economic activities in the Western Hemisphere.

• Monitoring PRC Economic Influence (Section 4): Requires the Secretary of State to create an "Infrastructure Influence Risk Mechanism" to:
• Track and address PRC-funded infrastructure and development projects in Taiwan's diplomatic allies.
• Identify projects posing strategic risks (e.g., threats to national security) or involving unclear financing.
• Develop U.S. diplomatic or technical countermeasures.
• Share findings with Congress and U.S. allies.

• Reporting Requirements (Section 5):
• Semiannual Reports: Updates to Senate Foreign Relations and House Foreign Affairs Committees on any Latin American governments moving to end ties with Taiwan.
• Diplomatic Engagement Plan: Within 30 days of detecting such moves, submit a detailed strategy to help preserve those ties.
• Annual Reports: For five years starting 180 days after enactment, assess PRC goals, investments, pressure tactics (e.g., influence campaigns), and U.S. actions to support Taiwan's partners and counter PRC isolation efforts. Reports are unclassified but may include classified attachments.

• Taiwan-Americas Strategic Coordination (Section 6): Directs the Secretary of State to promote U.S. collaboration with Latin American and Caribbean countries on Taiwan-related issues by:
• Jointly planning programs and technical aid with U.S. allies.
• Aligning public diplomacy (outreach to build favorable perceptions).
• Fostering cooperation between U.S. embassies and Taiwan's offices in the region.

• Briefing on Countering Malign Influence (Section 7): Within 60 days of enactment, the Secretary of State (with other agencies) must brief congressional committees on:
• Current U.S. support for Taiwan's defenses against PRC "malign influence operations" (defined as hidden tactics like media manipulation, economic pressure, cyberattacks, or censorship to corrupt institutions, interfere in elections, promote self-censorship, or undermine Taiwan's government).
• Recommendations for aid to address Taiwan's vulnerabilities, including capacity-building for officials, media, and businesses; whole-of-government strategies against interference; legal system enhancements; and international collaborations.
• Specific U.S. responses to PRC campaigns, such as exposing propaganda and aiding election security.

• Briefing on Taiwan Strait Deterrence (Section 8): Within 60 days of enactment, provide congressional briefings assessing:
• Military readiness of Taiwan and the U.S. to deter conflict in the Taiwan Strait.
• Whether existing policies adequately prevent PRC attempts to resolve Taiwan's status non-peacefully, considering shifts in regional military balance.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill introduces new requirements without explicitly amending prior statutes. It adds mandatory monitoring mechanisms, reporting obligations, and briefings to U.S. foreign policy frameworks, building on existing laws like the Taiwan Relations Act (which guides U.S.-Taiwan ties) by focusing specifically on Latin America and countering PRC influence. No repeals or direct modifications to current laws are specified.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The Department of State gains new responsibilities for tracking, reporting, and coordinating, potentially increasing workload and resource needs for diplomacy in the Americas. Other federal agencies (e.g., those handling cybersecurity or aid) may contribute to briefings and joint efforts.

• On Citizens: Indirect effects include enhanced U.S. support for democratic values and human rights in partner nations, potentially benefiting regional stability and reducing foreign coercion that could affect trade or migration. U.S. citizens may see indirect gains through stronger alliances against PRC expansion.

• On International Relations: Could strengthen U.S.-Taiwan ties and encourage more regional countries to maintain or initiate relations with Taiwan, while challenging PRC influence in the Western Hemisphere. This may heighten U.S.-PRC tensions but promote freer sovereign decisions among Latin American and Caribbean nations, fostering multilateral cooperation on development and security.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• U.S. Government: Congress (via oversight committees) and the State Department (leading implementation).
• Taiwan: Benefits from U.S. support against isolation and enhanced regional engagement.
• Latin American and Caribbean Countries: The seven with current Taiwan ties (e.g., Paraguay, Guatemala) receive aid to resist pressure; others may be indirectly influenced to prioritize sovereignty.
• People's Republic of China: Targeted as the source of coercive actions, potentially facing diplomatic pushback.
• U.S. Allies: Regional partners and like-minded nations (e.g., in Europe or Asia) involved in joint programming and information-sharing.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Reinforces congressional role in foreign affairs through required reports and briefings, ensuring executive branch accountability without infringing on presidential diplomacy powers. Definitions like "malign influence operations" provide clear guidance for U.S. responses but avoid mandating sanctions.

• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority over foreign policy (e.g., via appropriations and oversight) and the executive's conduct of relations, promoting checks and balances.

• Political: Signals bipartisan U.S. commitment to Taiwan amid rising PRC assertiveness, potentially influencing global perceptions of U.S. reliability as an ally. It could escalate geopolitical competition in the Americas but supports broader goals of countering authoritarian influence without direct confrontation.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]

Cosponsors (6)

Sen. Curtis, John R. [R-UT], Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA], Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE], Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO], Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR], Sen. McCormick, David [R-PA]

Recent Actions

• 2025-10-30: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 242.
• 2025-10-30: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
• 2025-10-30: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
• 2025-10-22: Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
• 2025-09-02: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
• 2025-09-02: Introduced in Senate

Bill Versions

• United States-Taiwan Partnership in the Americas Act — issued 2025-09-02 — PDF (6 pages)
• United States - Taiwan Partnership in the Americas Act — issued 2025-10-30 — PDF (16 pages)