US Lawmakers Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Codify “Six Assurances” To Taiwan Amid Rising China Tensions

May 16, 2025 :Amid intensifying strategic competition with China, a group of bipartisan US lawmakers has introduced a bill to formally codify the “Six Assurances” to Taiwan into law—a move aimed at reinforcing America’s commitment to Taipei and sending a firm message to Beijing, Taipei Times reported.

The bill was introduced by Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, a member of the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). It seeks to enshrine into law the principles first outlined by President Ronald Reagan in 1982, which have long served as a guiding framework in US-Taiwan relations but have never had the force of law.

“Taiwan is a vibrant democracy and a critical partner to the United States, and it deserves clarity and certainty when it comes to our commitments,” said Krishnamoorthi in a press statement.

The original assurances were communicated privately by then-American Institute in Taiwan Director James Lilley to Taiwan’s President Chiang Ching-kuo, but they were never issued as an official government document. Despite being consistently upheld by successive US administrations and reaffirmed by Congress, they remain informal—unlike the Taiwan Relations Act, which has been codified since 1979.

The Six Assurances include:

1. No set date for ending US arms sales to Taiwan
2. No prior consultation with China on such sales
3. No mediation between Taiwan and China
4. No revision of the Taiwan Relations Act
5. No change in the US position on Taiwan’s sovereignty
6. No pressure on Taiwan to negotiate with Beijing

“By codifying the six assurances, this bill sends a clear, bipartisan message: We will stand firm against coercion, support peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and ensure that US policy remains consistent, principled and rooted in law,” Krishnamoorthi added.

The proposed legislation is co-sponsored by Representatives Gregory Meeks, Zach Nunn, Greg Stanton, Young Kim, and Nicole Malliotakis. The bill must pass both chambers of Congress before it can be signed into law by the President.

The introduction of the bill coincided with a hearing titled “Deterrence Amid Rising Tensions: Preventing CCP Aggression on Taiwan”, where former military and diplomatic officials offered testimony. During the hearing, Krishnamoorthi underscored the risks of Chinese aggression.

“A CCP attack on Taiwan would be unacceptable for our prosperity, our security and our values,” he said.

The move reflects growing concern in Washington over China’s expanding military posture in the Taiwan Strait and a push to reinforce US-Taiwan relations with clear, legally binding commitments.