22 USC 3384 - Taiwan Fellowship Program

View all text of Subchapter IV [§ 3381 - § 3388]

§ 3384. Taiwan Fellowship Program

(a) Establishment

(b) Cooperative agreement

(1) In general

(2) FellowshipsThe Department of State or the American Institute in Taiwan, in consultation with, as appropriate, the implementing partner, should award to eligible United States citizens, subject to available funding—

(A) approximately 5 fellowships during the first 2 years of the Program; and

(B) approximately 10 fellowships during each of the remaining years of the Program.

1 So in original. Probably should be “Institute”.

in Taiwan agreement; implementing partnerNot later than 30 days after December 23, 2022, the American Institute in Taiwan, in consultation with the Department of State, should—

(1) begin negotiations with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office, or with another appropriate entity, for the purpose of entering into an agreement to facilitate the placement of fellows in an agency of Taiwan; and

(2) begin the process of selecting an implementing partner, which—

(A) shall agree to meet all of the legal requirements required to operate in Taiwan; and

(B) shall be composed of staff who demonstrate significant experience managing exchange programs in the Indo-Pacific region.

(d) Curriculum

(1) First yearDuring the first year of each fellowship under this section, each fellow should study—

(A) the Mandarin Chinese language;

(B) the people, history, and political climate on Taiwan; and

(2) Second yearDuring the second year of each fellowship under this section, each fellow, subject to the approval of the Department of State, the American Institute in Taiwan, and the implementing partner, and in accordance with the purposes of this chapter, should work in—

(A) a parliamentary office, ministry, or other agency of Taiwan; or

(B) an organization outside the public sector in Taiwan, whose interests are associated with the interests of the fellow and the agency of the United States Government from which the fellow is or had been employed.

(e) Program requirements

(1) Eligibility requirementsA United States citizen is eligible for a fellowship under this section if the citizen—

(A) is an employee of the United States Government;

(B) has received at least one exemplary performance review in his or her current United States Government role within at least the last three years prior to beginning the fellowship;

(D) has a demonstrated professional or educational background in the relationship between the United States and countries in the Indo-Pacific region; and

(E) has demonstrated his or her commitment to further service in the United States Government.

(2) Responsibilities of fellowsEach recipient of a fellowship under this section shall agree, as a condition of such fellowship—

(A) to maintain satisfactory progress in language training and appropriate behavior in Taiwan, consistent with United States Government policy toward Taiwan, as determined by the Department of State, the American Institute in Taiwan and, as appropriate, its implementing partner;

(B) to refrain from engaging in any intelligence or intelligence-related activity on behalf of the United States Government; and

(C) to continue Federal Government employment for a period of not less than 4 years after the conclusion of the fellowship or for not less than 2 years for a fellowship that is 1 year or shorter.

(3) Responsibilities of implementing partner

(A) Selection of fellowsThe implementing partner, with the concurrence of the Department of State and the American Institute in Taiwan, shall—

(i) make efforts to recruit fellowship candidates who reflect the diversity of the United States;

(ii) select fellows for the Taiwan Fellowship Program based solely on merit, with appropriate supervision from the Department of State and the American Institute in Taiwan; and

(iii) prioritize the selection of candidates willing to serve in a fellowship lasting 1 year or longer.

(B) First yearThe implementing partner should provide each fellow in the first year (or shorter duration, as jointly determined by the Department of State and the American Institute in Taiwan for those who are not serving a 2-year fellowship) with—

(i) intensive Mandarin Chinese language training; and

(ii) courses in the politics, culture, and history of Taiwan, China, and the broader Indo-Pacific.

(D) Office; staffingThe implementing partner, in consultation with the Department of State and the American Institute in Taiwan, may maintain an office and at least 1 full-time staff member in Taiwan—

(i) to liaise with the American Institute in Taiwan and institutions of Taiwan; and

(ii) to serve as the primary in-country point of contact for the recipients of fellowships under this subchapter and their dependents.

(E) Other functions

(4) Noncompliance

(A) In generalAny fellow who fails to comply with the requirements under this section shall reimburse the American Institute in Taiwan, or the appropriate United States Government agency for—

(i) the Federal funds expended for the fellow’s participation in the fellowship, as set forth in subparagraphs (B) and (C); and

(ii) interest accrued on such funds (calculated at the prevailing rate).

(B) Full reimbursementAny fellow who violates subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (2) shall reimburse the American Institute in Taiwan, or the appropriate United States Government agency, in an amount equal to the sum of—

(i) all of the Federal funds expended for the fellow’s participation in the fellowship; and

(ii) interest on the amount specified in subparagraph (A), which shall be calculated at the prevailing rate.

(C) Pro rata reimbursementAny fellow who violates subparagraph (C) of paragraph (2) shall reimburse the American Institute in Taiwan, or the appropriate United States Government agency, in an amount equal to the difference between—

(i) the amount specified in subparagraph (B); and

(ii) the product of—(I) the amount the fellow received in compensation during the final year of the fellowship, including the value of any allowances and benefits received by the fellow; multiplied by(II) the percentage of the period specified in paragraph (2)(C) during which the fellow did not remain employed by the Federal Government.

(f) Flexible fellowship duration

(g) Sunset

(Pub. L. 117–263, div. E, title LV, § 5530, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3326.)