Tiffany Amendments to Deepen U.S.-Taiwan Ties Clear U.S. House
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the House of Representatives approved two amendments authored by Congressman Tom Tiffany (WI-07) to the Department of Defense Appropriations Act. Both measures promote closer U.S.-Taiwan cooperation and chip away at America’s outdated “One China” policy.
Rep. Tiffany’s “honest maps” amendment prohibits the Department of Defense from creating, procuring, or displaying any map that depicts Taiwan as part of the territory of the People’s Republic of China.
Tiffany’s second amendment blocks the enforcement of several arbitrary State Department restrictions that limit communication and cooperation between U.S. officials and their counterparts in Taiwan.
Rep. Tiffany’s remarks on his “honest maps” amendment can be found here and below.
“[A]ll of us know that Taiwan is not – nor has it ever been – part of Communist China. Any claims to the contrary are simply false. Since the 1970s, America’s so-called “One China Policy” has acknowledged Beijing’s bogus claims over Taiwan. This is an antiquated and dishonest policy – and it is one that we should abandon. While my amendment will not end that misguided policy, it will at least require that the maps that we use reflect a simple reality: China is China, and Taiwan is Taiwan.”
Rep. Tiffany’s remarks on his amendment to prevent State Department restrictions can be found here and below.
“These restrictions – which are imposed at the behest of Communist China – are not only counter-productive, they actually conflict with existing U.S. law. They prevent high-ranking officials from traveling to Taiwan, which makes it more difficult for us to coordinate with military planners in Taipei. They police language – warning American officials “not to refer to Taiwan as a ‘country’ or its elected leaders as a ‘government.’” They even impose degrading restrictions that serve no reasonable purpose – such as a ban on displaying Taiwan’s flag and the playing of Taiwan’s national anthem at functions held on U.S. government property. In essence, they are designed to prevent and limit high level interaction between U.S. and Taiwanese officials – despite the fact that it has been official U.S. policy since 2018 to encourage and facilitate them. Mr. Speaker these rules do not help the United States and they do not help Taiwan. The only country they help is Communist China. These Taiwan rules, like so many elements of our failed “One China Policy,” simply perpetuate Beijing’s lies, and reward their bad behavior. America does not need a permission slip from Communist China to talk to friends and allies. And that policy should end today.”
###