The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Taiwan Conflict Deterrence Act,
aiming to deter Chinese aggression against Taiwan.

The bill threatens to publish information about Chinese Communist Party
officials' "illicit" financial assets in the event that Beijing attacks
Taiwan.

Introduced in January last year by Republican Representative French Hill and
Democratic Representative Brad Sherman, the act would also "restrict
financial services for certain immediate family of such officials."

Hill says the bill "requires the treasury secretary to publish the illicit
assets of Beijing's senior most leaders, including the names of financial
institutions and maintaining accounts" in the event that China attacks
Taiwanese people.

In response, Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung expressed thanks to the
U.S. Congress for using a "creative and effective way" to deter Chinese
military aggression toward Taiwan.

(CNA-JL)