47th Anniversary of Taiwan Relations Act: US Congress Cross-Party Statements Proudly Support Taiwan
The Taiwan Relations Act, effective January 1, 1979, was enacted by the US to maintain unofficial relations with Taiwan when establishing diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China. This law obligates the US to maintain peace and stability in the Western Pacific, provide defensive weapons to Taiwan, and resist non-peaceful means of determining Taiwan's future. The US Congress commemorated the 47th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, expressing strong bipartisan support for Taiwan, emphasizing the strengthening of security, economic, and trade relations, and shared democratic values.
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In December 1978, the US Carter administration announced that it would establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China on New Year's Day 1979, severing diplomatic ties with the Republic of China (present-day Taiwan) which were first established in 1913. Numerous supporters of the Republic of China in the US Congress promoted the legislation of the Taiwan Relations Act to maintain various unofficial relations with Taiwan. After being signed by President Carter on April 10, it was retroactively effective from January 1, 1979.
The Taiwan Relations Act is a domestic law of the United States, consisting of 18 articles, with the Chinese version being approximately 4600 characters. Some in the US argue that because it is a law, its status is higher than the three joint communiqués between Washington and Beijing (the 1972 Shanghai Communiqué, the 1979 Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, and the 1982 August 17 Communiqué). China, on the other hand, argues that the three joint communiqués are diplomatic documents with legal effect.
The Taiwan Relations Act and the three joint communiqués signed by the US and China are often referred to as "one law and three communiqués," and together they form the main framework of US policy towards the Taiwan Strait.
In addition to authorizing the executive branch to "continue to maintain commercial, cultural, and other relations between the people of the United States and the people on Taiwan, to promote US foreign policy, and for other purposes," the Taiwan Relations Act explicitly states that its purpose is to "help maintain peace, security, and stability in the Western Pacific."
The part of the Taiwan Relations Act that best embodies the US commitment to Taiwan's security is Article 2(B), which states: the peace and stability in the Western Pacific area are in the political, security, and economic interests of the United States and are matters of international concern; the decision by the United States to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China rests upon the expectation that the future of Taiwan will be determined by peaceful means; any effort to determine the future of Taiwan by other than peaceful means, including by boycotts or embargoes, is considered a threat to the peace and security of the Western Pacific area and of grave concern to the United States; to provide Taiwan with arms of a defensive character; to maintain the capacity of the United States to resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security, or the social or economic system, of the people on Taiwan.
US arms sales to Taiwan and cooperation between the US and Taiwan in defending Taiwan are all based on the above provisions.
Yes. At the same time as signing the August 17 Communiqué with China, the US Reagan administration privately presented Taiwan with "Six Assurances," primarily to offset the provisions in the August 17 Communiqué regarding the gradual reduction of US arms sales to Taiwan. In 2016, the US Senate and House of Representatives separately passed joint resolutions, slightly adjusting the content of the Six Assurances to Taiwan and formalizing them in congressional documents, but these two joint resolutions only expressed the position of Congress and had no legal binding force.
In addition, some pro-Taiwan members of the US Congress believe that the Taiwan Relations Act is not clear enough on how the US should respond if Taiwan is militarily invaded by China (the so-called strategic ambiguity), and therefore proposed the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act in 2000, but it did not pass.
In March 2018, President Trump signed the Taiwan Travel Act into law, meaning that the level of mutual visits between Taiwanese and US officials could be raised.
Senator Pete Ricketts, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's Indo-Pacific Subcommittee, tweeted that the Taiwan Relations Act marks its 47th anniversary today, serving as the foundation for the growing defense, technology, and trade partnership between the US and Taiwan. Taiwan continues to face illegal, coercive, and deceptive offensives from the CCP. "I proudly stand with Taiwan, and the US remains committed to Taiwan's defense and democracy."
The House Foreign Affairs Committee Republican Caucus posted that for nearly half a century, it has not only ensured Taiwan's security but also strengthened US interests in the Indo-Pacific region. To this day, the Taiwan Relations Act remains a bulwark against CCP aggression.
The House Select Committee on the CCP Democratic Caucus tweeted that today marks the 47th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, one of Congress's most important commitments to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. Congress will continue to firmly support the Taiwanese people's right to self-determination.
Democratic Senator Andy Kim tweeted that the Taiwan Relations Act helps provide peace, prosperity, and security to the people of Taiwan. Taiwan is an important partner of the US in commerce, security, democracy, and the broader Indo-Pacific region. "We must continue to expand and deepen the important US-Taiwan relationship."
Democratic Senator Maggie Hassan posted that countering Chinese aggression is crucial to US national security. Today marks the 47th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, which is the foundation of the close US-Taiwan relationship. "We must maintain our important alliances in the region to ensure US security and freedom."
Representative Ami Bera, Co-Chair of the House Congressional Taiwan Caucus, tweeted that for 47 years, the Taiwan Relations Act has been the cornerstone of US-Taiwan relations, strengthening economic, security, and trade ties, and promoting shared democratic values, human rights, and the rule of law. "As Co-Chair of the Taiwan Caucus, I am proud to work in the US Congress to strengthen US-Taiwan relations and maintain strong bipartisan support." (Edited by Tang Shengyang) 1150411
The Taiwan Relations Act is a domestic law of the United States, consisting of 18 articles, with the Chinese version being approximately 4600 characters. Some in the US argue that because it is a law, its status is higher than the three joint communiqués between Washington and Beijing (the 1972 Shanghai Communiqué, the 1979 Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, and the 1982 August 17 Communiqué). China, on the other hand, argues that the three joint communiqués are diplomatic documents with legal effect.
The Taiwan Relations Act and the three joint communiqués signed by the US and China are often referred to as "one law and three communiqués," and together they form the main framework of US policy towards the Taiwan Strait.
In addition to authorizing the executive branch to "continue to maintain commercial, cultural, and other relations between the people of the United States and the people on Taiwan, to promote US foreign policy, and for other purposes," the Taiwan Relations Act explicitly states that its purpose is to "help maintain peace, security, and stability in the Western Pacific."
The part of the Taiwan Relations Act that best embodies the US commitment to Taiwan's security is Article 2(B), which states: the peace and stability in the Western Pacific area are in the political, security, and economic interests of the United States and are matters of international concern; the decision by the United States to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China rests upon the expectation that the future of Taiwan will be determined by peaceful means; any effort to determine the future of Taiwan by other than peaceful means, including by boycotts or embargoes, is considered a threat to the peace and security of the Western Pacific area and of grave concern to the United States; to provide Taiwan with arms of a defensive character; to maintain the capacity of the United States to resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security, or the social or economic system, of the people on Taiwan.
US arms sales to Taiwan and cooperation between the US and Taiwan in defending Taiwan are all based on the above provisions.
Yes. At the same time as signing the August 17 Communiqué with China, the US Reagan administration privately presented Taiwan with "Six Assurances," primarily to offset the provisions in the August 17 Communiqué regarding the gradual reduction of US arms sales to Taiwan. In 2016, the US Senate and House of Representatives separately passed joint resolutions, slightly adjusting the content of the Six Assurances to Taiwan and formalizing them in congressional documents, but these two joint resolutions only expressed the position of Congress and had no legal binding force.
In addition, some pro-Taiwan members of the US Congress believe that the Taiwan Relations Act is not clear enough on how the US should respond if Taiwan is militarily invaded by China (the so-called strategic ambiguity), and therefore proposed the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act in 2000, but it did not pass.
In March 2018, President Trump signed the Taiwan Travel Act into law, meaning that the level of mutual visits between Taiwanese and US officials could be raised.
Senator Pete Ricketts, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's Indo-Pacific Subcommittee, tweeted that the Taiwan Relations Act marks its 47th anniversary today, serving as the foundation for the growing defense, technology, and trade partnership between the US and Taiwan. Taiwan continues to face illegal, coercive, and deceptive offensives from the CCP. "I proudly stand with Taiwan, and the US remains committed to Taiwan's defense and democracy."
The House Foreign Affairs Committee Republican Caucus posted that for nearly half a century, it has not only ensured Taiwan's security but also strengthened US interests in the Indo-Pacific region. To this day, the Taiwan Relations Act remains a bulwark against CCP aggression.
The House Select Committee on the CCP Democratic Caucus tweeted that today marks the 47th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, one of Congress's most important commitments to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. Congress will continue to firmly support the Taiwanese people's right to self-determination.
Democratic Senator Andy Kim tweeted that the Taiwan Relations Act helps provide peace, prosperity, and security to the people of Taiwan. Taiwan is an important partner of the US in commerce, security, democracy, and the broader Indo-Pacific region. "We must continue to expand and deepen the important US-Taiwan relationship."
Democratic Senator Maggie Hassan posted that countering Chinese aggression is crucial to US national security. Today marks the 47th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, which is the foundation of the close US-Taiwan relationship. "We must maintain our important alliances in the region to ensure US security and freedom."
Representative Ami Bera, Co-Chair of the House Congressional Taiwan Caucus, tweeted that for 47 years, the Taiwan Relations Act has been the cornerstone of US-Taiwan relations, strengthening economic, security, and trade ties, and promoting shared democratic values, human rights, and the rule of law. "As Co-Chair of the Taiwan Caucus, I am proud to work in the US Congress to strengthen US-Taiwan relations and maintain strong bipartisan support." (Edited by Tang Shengyang) 1150411
FAQ
What is the Taiwan Relations Act?
The Taiwan Relations Act is a domestic law of the United States enacted in 1979 to maintain unofficial relations with Taiwan when the US established diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China. It aims to maintain peace and stability in the Western Pacific and stipulates the provision of defensive weapons to Taiwan.
What is the relationship between the Taiwan Relations Act and the three US-China Joint Communiqués?
The Taiwan Relations Act and the three US-China Joint Communiqués (Shanghai, Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, and August 17) are collectively known as "one law and three communiqués," forming the main framework of US policy towards the Taiwan Strait. Some in the US argue that the Taiwan Relations Act holds a higher status than the Joint Communiqués.