Washington: The United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations is set to review four Taiwan-related bills next week, addressing issues from “sovereignty symbols” to energy security, undersea cable protection, and support for Taiwan’s partners.

According to Focus Taiwan, the bills up for consideration include the Taiwan Symbols of Sovereignty Act, the Taiwan Energy Security and Anti-Embargo Act, the Taiwan Undersea Cable Resilience Initiative Act, and the Taiwan Allies Fund Act. These measures aim to bolster Taiwan’s standing and security in various sectors amidst growing pressures.

The Taiwan Symbols of Sovereignty Act, introduced by Republican Senator Ted Cruz and other lawmakers, seeks to remove restrictions from the Obama era that prevent Taiwanese diplomats and military personnel from displaying symbols of sovereignty during official U.S. visits. The proposal mandates the U.S. secretaries of state and defense to permit Taiwanese officials to display national symbols like flags and military insignia while on official business in the United States.

Focusing on energy security, the bipartisan Taiwan Energy Security and Anti-Embargo Act addresses Taiwan’s reliance on imported energy and susceptibility to coercion by the Chinese Communist Party. The bill proposes increased U.S. exports of liquefied natural gas to Taiwan, support for Taiwan’s energy infrastructure, promotion of nuclear energy usage, and strategies to ensure reliable energy supplies during emergencies.

The Taiwan Undersea Cable Resilience Initiative Act, another bipartisan effort, targets the protection of Taiwan’s critical communications infrastructure, crucial as 99 percent of its internet bandwidth depends on undersea cables. The bill calls for the U.S. secretary of state to spearhead initiatives to enhance cable security, including naval cooperation with Taiwan, intelligence sharing, and sanctions against entities damaging these cables.

Lastly, the Taiwan Allies Fund Act proposes the creation of a US$120 million fund over three years to assist Taiwan’s diplomatic allies and unofficial partners facing Chinese pressure. To qualify, countries must maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan or significantly enhance unofficial ties while facing coercion from China, yet lacking the capacity to counter such pressures without U.S. aid.

These bills, after potential approval by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, would require further passage by both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives and the president’s signature to be enacted.