U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has introduced the Taiwan Symbols of Sovereignty (Taiwan SOS) Act alongside Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.). The proposed legislation would allow Taiwanese diplomats and military personnel to display their national flag and wear their uniforms while on official business in the United States.
Senator Cruz stated, “The Chinese Communist Party is committed to eroding Taiwan’s global status, and the United States should be just as committed to strengthening it. The Obama administration did enormous damage to American national security when it first implemented these prohibitions against our Taiwanese allies, and I have been battling this policy ever since. It was successfully overturned during the first Trump administration, before being reinstated under Biden, again to the detriment of the safety and security of Americans and our allies. There has been broad, explicit bipartisan support for rescinding these prohibitions, and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has advanced this language to do so. I am confident they will do so again, and I call on my colleagues in the Senate to advance it to passage.”
Senator Young commented, “Taiwan’s government, military, and people deserve to be treated with the same respect and recognition we afford other countries. Our bill will strengthen U.S.-Taiwan relations and stand up to the Chinese Communist Party’s coercion.”
Senator Blackburn added, “Taiwan is a sovereign nation, and the U.S. should not support Communist China’s efforts to undermine its independence by restricting Taiwanese diplomats and service members from displaying their flag. The Taiwan SOS Act would make it clear the United States firmly stands with Taiwan.”
The legislation seeks to reverse guidelines that originated during the Obama administration and were reinstated under President Biden. These rules prohibit displays of Taiwanese sovereignty at official U.S. government events. Senator Cruz previously introduced similar legislation in both 2020 and 2022, with related language having been advanced by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 2021.
Senator Ted Cruz recently won re-election in 2024 against Colin Allred with 53.1% of the vote.
