Senator Introduces Legislation to Deter China’s Aggression Against Taiwan

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Oct 9, 2025 - 09:54 Updated: Oct 9, 2025 - 09:46
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Senator Introduces Legislation to Deter China’s Aggression Against Taiwan

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The top Republican on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee has introduced legislation aimed at identifying Chinese targets for potential U.S. sanctions, in an effort to deter Beijing’s aggression against Taiwan.

The Deter PRC Aggression Against Taiwan Act uses the acronym of China’s official name, the People’s Republic of China.

Introduced by Sen. James Risch (R-Idaho), the legislation would mandate the creation of a China Sanctions Task Force led jointly by the State and Treasury departments, according to an Oct. 6 statement. The task force would identify Chinese military and non-military targets for sanctions, export controls, and other economic measures, should China decide to invade Taiwan or attempt to overthrow the Taiwanese government.

“China’s escalating coercive actions are part of its strategy to intimidate Taiwan and other countries in Asia into submission—but we won’t allow our friends to be bullied,” Risch said in a statement.

“Using lessons learned from the challenges in U.S. and partner country sanctions against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, this legislation will ensure America is prepared to hit China where it hurts should China follow through on its threats to use violent force against Taiwan.”

The Chinese Communist Party, although it has never governed Taiwan, sees the self-governing island as a “renegade province” and has not ruled out the use of military force to achieve its goal of “unification” with the mainland.
According to the legislation, the task force would assess “resource gaps” between federal agencies on how to “most effectively use sanctions and other economic tools” to respond to China’s coercive actions against Taiwan.

The task force would also review existing sanctions programs, develop new sanction authorities if needed, and analyze “potential economic consequences” to the United States and measures to mitigate them, according to the bill. Additionally, it would coordinate with partners and allies on sanctions against Chinese entities, as well as provide “economic support to Taiwan.”

Other Chinese actions that could lead to U.S. sanctions under the legislation include conducting a naval blockade of Taiwan, seizing any of Taiwan’s outlying islands, and conducting a cyberattack against the island that “erodes the ability of the governing institutions in Taiwan to operate or provide essential services” to Taiwanese people.

Taiwan’s outlying Kinmen Islands, with a resident population of about 67,000, are located about two miles from the Chinese mainland but more than 110 miles from Taiwan.
In July 2024, tension across the Taiwan Strait intensified after Chinese coast guard vessels boarded and seized a Taiwan fishing vessel that was in Chinese waters about 17.5 nautical miles from the Taiwan-controlled waters of Kinmen Islands. At the time, Taiwan’s intelligence chief said the incident could be a tactic by China to “weaken” the Taiwanese government’s sovereign status.

If enacted, the legislation would also require the task force to submit an annual classified report to Congress.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, in an interview on The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show aired on Oct. 6, said that U.S. President Donald Trump would deserve the Nobel Peace Prize if he could successfully convince Chinese leader Xi Jinping to abandon the plan to annex Taiwan by force.

Risch has been outspoken about supporting Taiwan.

In July, Risch took to X to criticize Beijing following its decision to activate a flight route near the sensitive median line in the Taiwan Strait.
“China’s unilateral launch of a new flight route in the Taiwan Strait violates international aviation rules and puts passenger safety at risk. Beijing continues to ignore protocols and norms and threaten our friends in Taipei,” Risch wrote at the time.

“Taiwan is a leader in aviation and must be included in [the International Civil Aviation Organization] to ensure aviation safety for all.”

In April, Risch called China’s military drills around Taiwan “shameless bullying,” according to an X post.

“Make no mistake. China’s dangerous drills near Taiwan aim to set the scene for a future blockade,” Risch wrote. “The U.S. and its partners will continue to support a free and democratic Taiwan.”

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