Van Hollen Secures Foreign Relations Committee Passage of Taiwan International Solidarity Act, Key Critical Minerals Provisions

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) secured Senate Foreign Relations Committee passage of his bipartisan Taiwan International Solidarity Act and of key provisions he authored within the Critical Minerals Partnership Act. Senator Van Hollen introduced the Taiwan International Solidary Act in July with Senator John Curtis (R-Utah). Companion legislation was introduced in the House by former Representative Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) and Young Kim (R-Calif.), where it passed in May. The lawmakers’ bill supports Taiwan’s ability to participate in international organizations as China continues working to curtail Taiwan’s influence in global affairs.

In addition to the passage of this bill, Senator Van Hollen worked to include key provisions he authored within the Committee’s Critical Minerals Partnership Act, legislation led by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and John Curtis and passed by the Committee today to bolster our critical mineral supply chains. Critical minerals play a central role in American innovation and national security, and the Senator’s provisions would:

• Create a report on priority critical minerals which includes assessments of their importance to national security, cases where their supplies are highly concentrated in or controlled by one country, and existing global initiatives and institutions focused on critical mineral issues
• Require the development of a diplomatic strategy for securing the supply chains of a diverse set of critical minerals
• Establish a mechanism to support US private sector critical mineral projects abroad

“As a thriving democracy with a strong economy, Taiwan brings an important perspective to global affairs. But the People’s Republic of China is working to prevent Taiwan from participating in the international forums where key global issues are discussed. Our bipartisan bill uses American leverage to counter Beijing’s efforts to silence Taiwan on the world stage and ensure it can play a robust role in shaping international affairs. Today’s Committee passage of our legislation is an important step forward, and I will continue working to move this bill across the finish line,” said Senator Van Hollen on the passage of his Taiwan International Solidarity Act.

“For too long, Beijing has worked to isolate Taiwan and distort history,” said Senator Curtis. “The United Nations must not become a platform for that distortion. I’m pleased to see this bipartisan bill advance through the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, strengthening our commitment to Taiwan’s dignity and right to self-determination. This is an important step toward ensuring the United States and our allies push back against efforts to erase Taiwan’s rightful place in the international community.”

“Protecting our critical mineral supply chain is central to American innovation and our national security. Today’s Committee passage of the Critical Minerals Partnership Act includes key provisions I authored to ensure we’re taking an all-encompassing approach to this issue and that we’re using all the tools available to us to tackle it. This is an important measure to address the challenges we face in safeguarding critical minerals and bolstering our national security, and I’m glad the Committee took action on it today,” said Senator Van Hollen on the passage of his critical minerals provisions.

Additional Background on the Taiwan International Solidarity Act

This legislation strengthens the TAIPEI Act of 2019 to clarify that U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2758 does not preclude the United States from using its vote, voice, and influence to resist the reckless campaign against Taiwan’s place on the world stage. The legislation further instructs the United States to use its voice, vote, and influence to resist Beijing’s efforts to distort the decisions, language, policies, or procedures of international organizations regarding Taiwan. This bill also encourages the U.S. to work with allies and partners to oppose the People’s Republic of China’s efforts to undermine Taiwan’s diplomatic relationships and partnerships globally. Additionally, it expands reporting requirements to include information relating to any prior or ongoing attempts by the People’s Republic of China to undermine Taiwan’s participation in international organizations as well as its ties and relationships with other countries.

Text of the legislation can be viewed here.

Additional Background on the Senators’ Critical Mineral Provisions

• Report Assessing Critical Mineral Supply Chains and Diplomatic Tools: Directs the Secretary of State to submit a report identifying critical minerals based on their importance as inputs into products critical to national security or where the supply of the mineral is high concentrated in or controlled by one country. The report will also include an assessment of existing bilateral and multilateral initiatives and institutions working on critical mineral issues.

• U.S. Diplomatic Strategy for Securing Critical Minerals Supply Chains: Directs the Secretary of State, in consultation with other Federal agencies to submit a diplomatic strategy to secure adequate supplies of critical minerals. The strategy will review current offices and positions engaged in securing critical minerals, coordinate utilization of U.S. tools and resources to advance critical minerals, describe engagement plans, leverage multilateral institutions, and ensure coordination of U.S. diplomatic and commercial advocacy.

• Establishment of Diplomatic Tool to Support United States Private Sector Critical Mineral Projects Abroad: Directs the Secretary of State to establish a mechanism and process for the United States to provide support for critical mineral projects abroad, which may include certifying that projects uphold labor rights and minimize environmental impacts and a process for U.S. private sector companies to engage with U.S. embassies for support.