Earlier today, the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed two bills strengthening the U.S.-Taiwan alliance and enhancing Taiwan’s security and defense capabilities. The Committee adopted H.R. 2918, the Taiwan Policy Act of 2011, and H.R. 2992, the Taiwan Airpower Modernization Act of 2011, as amended. Both bills support the sale of F-16 C/D fighter planes to Taiwan. The bills were authored by Committee Chairman Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-TX), the Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State-Foreign Operations, respectively.

“By building on the firm foundation laid by the Taiwan Relations Act over three decades ago, the Taiwan Policy Act will serve to move relations between the peoples of the United States and Taiwan to new levels in the areas of security, trade, and international travel,” Ros-Lehtinen said after both bills, as amended, were adopted by the Committee by voice vote.

“This Committee showed its support for the people of Taiwan, for the sale of F-16 fighters to this island democracy, and for the spirit of the Taiwan Relations Act by taking favorable action today on this legislation,” she continued. “The bills considered and adopted today will help ensure that Taiwan’s peace, prosperity and security will be maintained for the next three decades and beyond.”

Ros-Lehtinen also discussed the Administration’s “regrettable and short-sighted decision not to sell the next generation of F-16 C/D fighters to Taiwan, despite growing evidence of China’s increasing military threat to the island.” “Taiwan needs those F-16s and she needs them now to defend the skies over the Taiwan Strait,” she said.

NOTE: H.R. 2918 seeks to further diplomatic relations with Taiwan and encourages the President to approve the sale of F-16 C/D fighter aircraft to Taiwan, and authorizes that sale. The bill also seeks to add Taiwan to the visa waiver program, permit senior Taiwan leaders to meet with U.S. officials in all executive branches, and sign a comprehensive extradition agreement among other items.

H.R. 2992 expresses the sense of Congress that a strong Taiwan is necessary for peace and stability in Asia. The bill also directs the President to sell no fewer than 66 F-16 C/Ds to Taiwan.

Ros-Lehtinen’s full statement from today’s markup is available here. ‘)}