The United States House of Representatives passed the PROTECT Taiwan Act last Monday by a 395-2 vote. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) thanked the U.S. congressmen for their support in a Facebook post, emphasizing how the act demonstrates unwavering bipartisan support for Taiwan’s security and democratic resilience.

Lin explained that “PROTECT” stands for “Pressure Regulatory Organizations To End Chinese Threats,” and complimented the lawmakers’ ingenuity, showcasing the protective nature of the bill.  

He explained that the act mainly states that if the security, social, or economic systems of the Taiwanese people is threatened by China’s actions, the U.S. should, to the greatest extent possible, push for China’s exclusion from important international financial and supervisory mechanisms such as the Group of 20 (G20), the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, and more.

The bill is part of a line of concrete pro-Taiwan actions, including the Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act passed last year.

Lin said, “Taiwan and the U.S. use a term called ‘symbiotic partnership,’ one that we have worked hard to achieve. What I’m promoting is a Taiwan-U.S. fleet. This isn’t just a narrow definition of military security; it also includes economic prosperity and development.”

The foreign minister thanked the U.S. executive and legislative branches for their support, trust, and attention to Taiwan. He expressed hope that the two will continue to work together to safeguard peace, create prosperity, and build a more resilient partnership.