Here is @RepTedYoho's "Taiwan Invasion Prevention Act", which would authorize US military force in the event China uses force against Taiwan. yoho.house.gov/sites/yoho.hou…
@RepTedYoho The key language in the bill is similar to other congressional authorizations for the use of force, like the famous Sept. 11 AUMF. This bill's language is similarly broad, but does impose some conditions on when the President can use force to defend Taiwan. 
@RepTedYoho POTUS can use force if 1) China attacks Taiwan's military; 2) China attacks territory under Taiwan's 'effective juris'; 3) China endangers lives of TW civilians or military.
@RepTedYoho This is a pretty broad AUMF (albeit sunsets after 5 years). POTUS could use force if China invades one of the outlying Taiwan-controlled territories (e.g. Kinmen, or even Taiping Isl in the South China Sea).
@RepTedYoho POTUS cd use force if China " endanger[s]... the lives of members of the military forces of Taiwan or civilians within the effective jurisdiction of Taiwan ...." I assume this means US can break a blockade of Taiwan.
@RepTedYoho Remember: Under US law, POTUS already has pretty wide ranging powers to use the US military without Congress (see, e.g, Libya 2011, Kosovo 1999, others..). All this bill is "authorize" something POTUS probably has legal power to do anyway.
@RepTedYoho Still, a congressional authorization for the use of force would be a huge deal politically, since it would show deadly serious US resolve to take military action (as after 9/11 and in Iraq).
@RepTedYoho Despite the very strong support Taiwan has in Congress, I seriously doubt there will be enough support for this bill to even get to a committee vote. But I'm not an expert on US politics. Maybe I'm wrong.
@RepTedYoho Having said that, I do commend @RepTedYoho for focusing attention on the very real military danger China poses to Taiwan, especially in a time of US distraction with our own internal problems.
@RepTedYoho Also worth noting that US has always been unwilling to give Taiwan a clear defense commitment; so as to deter Taiwan from declaring formal independence in a way that would incite a Chinese invasion. So this bill would be a dramatic departure from that longstanding policy.
