U.S. Senators John Curtis and Catherine Cortez Masto introduced the Taiwan Relations Reinforcement Act on Apr. 16, a bipartisan measure aimed at strengthening congressional oversight of U.S.-Taiwan relations and ensuring that the United States is prepared to uphold its commitments under the longstanding Taiwan Relations Act.
The legislation comes amid rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, especially regarding China’s posture toward Taiwan. The bill would require the Secretary of War, in coordination with U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, to submit an annual report to Congress assessing America’s ability to deter aggression against Taiwan and maintain regional stability.
“Since the Taiwan Relations Act became law in 1979, Congress has played the leading role in the U.S.-Taiwan relationship,” said Senator Curtis. “This bill affirms that legacy by ensuring Congress has the information it needs to evaluate whether our military posture, industrial base, and alliances are sufficient to deter conflict and preserve peace in the Taiwan Strait.”
Senator Cortez Masto said: “As the Chinese Communist Party tries to exert more influence in the Indo-Pacific, the United States remains committed to defending our ally Taiwan and deterring China’s aggression. To do so, we need to make sure our military is ready and capable to meet its obligations to defend Taiwan. We cannot wait for the first shot to catch us unaware.”
The proposed act mandates a comprehensive review of U.S. capabilities related to defense commitments under current law, identification of capability gaps, and recommendations for addressing shortfalls through budgetary or legislative changes over time. The bill does not authorize use of military force nor alter existing statutory requirements under current policy.
Curtis serves as senator from Utah after two terms as mayor of Provo according to his official website. He founded the Conservative Climate Caucus while raising six children and seventeen grandchildren according to his official website. Curtis ranks among effective Republican members of Congress according to his official website.
He also serves on multiple committees advocating conservative environmental solutions with a platform focused on supporting small businesses; he has passed significant legislation on public land management and human trafficking according to his official website.
The introduction of this legislation reflects growing bipartisan recognition about deterrence strategies needed for maintaining peace in East Asia.
