Bill > S2222

This bill, titled the "Critical Undersea Infrastructure Resilience Initiative Act," aims to bolster the security and resilience of undersea cables and other vital infrastructure that support Taiwan's national security, economy, and defense, particularly in response to "gray zone tactics" (covert or overt actions that exist in a space between peace and war) employed by the People's Republic of China (PRC). The bill defines "critical undersea infrastructure" to include both subsea energy infrastructure (like electricity cables and pipelines) and subsea telecommunications infrastructure (like fiber-optic cables), and defines "sabotage" as actions intended to damage or disrupt this infrastructure. It establishes the "Taiwan Critical Undersea Infrastructure Initiative" to be led by the Secretary of State, which will focus on advanced monitoring and detection systems, rapid response protocols for damaged infrastructure with authorized funding of $20 million annually from fiscal years 2027-2032, enhanced maritime domain awareness through joint patrols with Taiwan and regional partners, international frameworks for protection including joint drills and intelligence sharing, and specific measures to "harden" Taiwan's undersea infrastructure against damage. Furthermore, the bill mandates efforts to counter PRC sabotage activities through diplomatic pressure and global awareness campaigns, and authorizes the President to impose sanctions on foreign individuals and entities involved in or facilitating sabotage of critical undersea infrastructure vital to Taiwan or other U.S. allies, including blocking property and denying visas. It also requires semiannual reports on incidents and responses, and establishes a "Cross-Strait Contingency Planning Group" to conduct scenario-based planning for potential crises involving Taiwan and to report annually to Congress on preparedness and recommendations.