Taipei Times
Date: Sep 18, 2019
By: Staff writer, with CNA
Several US senators have called for the swift passage of a bill in the US Congress aimed at helping Taiwan keep its diplomatic allies, one day after Taiwan announced the severance of ties with the Solomon Islands.
Taiwan cut diplomatic ties with the Solomon Islands after the South Pacific nation decided to switch diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing, Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) said on Monday.
It left Taiwan with 16 diplomatic allies.
Taiwan-friendly US Senator Cory Gardner denounced Beijing’s actions in a tweet and called on the US Senate to pass the legislation he introduced to help Taiwan amid China’s growing efforts to poach its diplomatic allies.
“China’s hostile actions toward Taipei will be met with resolve by the free world. I urge the Senate to immediately consider my TAIPEI Act, which would impose consequences on nations downgrading ties with Taiwan in favor of China,” Gardner said on Twitter, referring to the draft “Taiwan allies international protection and enhancement initiative act,” which he and senators Marco Rubio, John Cornyn and Chris Coons reintroduced to the Senate earlier this year. [FULL STORY]