The new law contains concrete measures encouraging US-Taiwan cooperation, writes Kent Wang.

The News Lens
Date: 2019/01/04
By: Kent Wang

On Dec. 31, 2018, U.S. President Donald Trump signed into law the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act (ARIA), which tries to counter China’s growing military influence. The act establishes a multifaceted U.S. strategy to increase U.S. security and values in the Indo-Pacific region. It was designed to counter the encroaching influence and growing threat from China, and to reinvigorate U.S. leadership in the region. This legislation further reiterates American commitment to Taiwan’s security, supports closer Taiwan-U.S. relations, and affirms the value of U.S. partnership with Taiwan and other countries in the region.

Passed on Dec. 4 and Dec. 12 by the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively, the law serves as a framework to improve U.S. leadership in the region and demonstrates its commitment to a “free and open Indo-Pacific” and rules-based international order.

In a dedicated section on Taiwan, the act states that it is the policy of the U.S. to support the close economic, political and security relationship between the two sides and faithfully enforce all existing commitments consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) and Six Assurances.

With China’s increasingly assertive rise, it is critical that the United States reaffirm the commitment to securing a free and open Indo-Pacific region through enhanced cooperation with our democratic partners. This important piece of legislation will do just that by creating a framework for U.S. policy throughout the region on several key areas including trade, promotion of human rights, counterterrorism programs, and many other national security priorities. Furthermore, the bill also reaffirms the U.S. position that cross-strait disputes must reach a peaceful resolution acceptable to both sides of the Taiwan Strait.    [FULL  STORY]