Press Release

Today, Representative Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA) and Representative Steve Chabot (R-OH), Chair and Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, reintroduced the Taiwan Fellowship Act.

Modeled on the successful Mansfield Fellowship Program between the United States and Japan, the Taiwan Fellowship Act establishes a fellowship exchange program for U.S. federal government employees in all three branches of government to learn, live, and work in Taiwan for a length of up to two years. Upon successful conclusion of the program, fellows must fulfill a service requirement in their sponsoring branch of government where they will be equipped to advance U.S. values and interests in the Indo-Pacific region, with special emphasis on strengthening our strategic partnership with Taiwan.

"The Indo-Pacific remains the most consequential region for U.S. foreign policy, which is why it's critical that we continue to develop dynamic partnerships with our friends and allies in the region," said Representative Bera. "The Taiwan Fellowship Act will give U.S. policymakers the opportunity to live and work in Taiwan, equipping them with better knowledge of the region's history, culture, and political dynamics, while expanding expertise in the Mandarin Chinese language. Such experiences and people-to-people connections are crucial for developing tomorrow's Taiwan experts in the federal government and informing U.S. foreign policy toward the Indo-Pacific. I am proud to work with Representative Chabot on this bipartisan legislation that invests in a robust, enduring U.S.-Taiwan relationship."

"As a founding member and a Co-Chair of the Taiwan Caucus, I have always sought to strengthen the ties between our two countries, and the Taiwan Fellowship Act will create a unique channel to do just that," said Representative Chabot. "By sending U.S. government personnel to Taiwan, this bipartisan legislation will foster deeper understanding between our two peoples, deliver firsthand experience of one of Asia's most important countries to U.S. policymakers, and cultivate relationships that will further strengthen U.S.-Taiwan relations. I urge my colleagues to join us in taking this opportunity to not only support Taiwan, but also broaden our own expertise on a region that is becoming increasingly important to the United States."

House co-sponsors of the bill include Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Ed Case (D-HI), Van Taylor (R-TX), and Grace Napolitano (D-CA).

Senate co-leads of the Taiwan Fellowship Act are Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Chairman of the East Asia Subcommittee on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

A copy of the legislation can be found HERE.