; and (B) 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. (2) First year The implementing partner should provide each fellow in the first year of his or her fellowship with— (A) intensive Mandarin Chinese language training; and (B) courses in the political economy of Taiwan, China, and the broader Indo-Pacific. (3) Waiver of required training The Department of State, in coordination with the American Institute in Taiwan and, as appropriate, the implementing partner, may waive any of the training required under paragraph (1) to the extent that a fellow has Mandarin language skills, knowledge of the topic described in paragraph (2)(B), or for other reasons approved by the Department of State and the American Institute in Taiwan. If any of the training requirement is waived for a fellow, the first year of his or her fellowship may be shortened to the extent appropriate. (4) Office; staffing The implementing partner, in consultation with the Department of State and the American Institute in Taiwan, shall maintain an office and at least 1 full-time staff member in Taiwan— (A) to liaise with the American Institute in Taiwan and Taiwan authorities; and (B) to serve as the primary in-country point of contact for the recipients of fellowships under this Act and their dependents. (5) Other functions The implementing partner shall perform other functions in association in support of the Taiwan Fellowship program to include those logistical and administrative in nature as may be determined by the Department of State and the American Institute in Taiwan. (d) Noncompliance (1) In general Any fellow who fails to comply with the requirements under this section shall reimburse the American Institute in Taiwan for— (A) the Federal funds expended for the fellow’s participation in the fellowship, as set forth in paragraphs (2) and (3)