Taiwan Relations Act 47th Anniversary: US House Republican Caucus Posts Photo of President Lai and Trump Side-by-Side
On the 47th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, the US House Foreign Affairs Committee's Republican caucus posted a photo of President Lai Ching-te and former President Trump side-by-side. The Act, which came into effect on January 1, 1979, is a US domestic law that contributes to Taiwan's security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. The US continues to provide defensive weapons to Taiwan under this Act, with some arguing its legal standing is superior to the three US-China joint communiqués. The Taiwan Travel Act and the "Six Assurances" further strengthen US-Taiwan relations.
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- 📰 Published: April 12, 2026 at 11:32
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A: In December 1978, the US Carter administration announced that it would establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China on January 1, 1979, severing diplomatic ties with the Republic of China (Taiwan), which had been established as early as 1913. To maintain various unofficial relations with Taiwan, many supporters of the Republic of China in the US Congress promoted the legislation of the Taiwan Relations Act, which, after being signed by President Carter on April 10, was retroactively effective from January 1, 1979.
A: The Taiwan Relations Act is a US domestic law with 18 articles, approximately 4600 characters in its Chinese version. 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 Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, and the 1982 August 17 Communiqué). China, however, argues that the three joint communiqués are legally binding diplomatic documents.
A: 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 the foreign policy of the United States, 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 national defense are all based on the above provisions.
A: Yes. At the same time as the US Reagan administration signed the August 17 Communiqué with China, it privately offered Taiwan the "Six Assurances," primarily to offset the provision in the August 17 Communiqué that US arms sales to Taiwan should decrease annually. In 2016, both the US Senate and House of Representatives passed concurrent resolutions, slightly adjusting the content of the Six Assurances to Taiwan and formalizing them in congressional documents, but these two concurrent resolutions only expressed congressional positions and were not legally binding.
In addition, some pro-Taiwan members of the US Congress believe that the Taiwan Relations Act is not clear enough regarding 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 official visits between Taiwan and the US could be raised.
The US Carter administration announced in December 1978 that it would sever diplomatic relations with the Republic of China on January 1, 1979, and establish diplomatic relations with Beijing. Subsequently, the US Congress passed the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA). Then-US President Carter signed the Taiwan Relations Act on April 10, 1979, retroactively effective from January 1, 1979, to maintain US-Taiwan relations.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee's Republican caucus posted: "Today marks the 47th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act. For nearly 50 years, this law has ensured Taiwan's security and strengthened US interests in the Indo-Pacific region. To this day, the Taiwan Relations Act remains a strong bulwark against aggression from the Chinese Communist Party."
President Lai posted on Facebook on April 10, emphasizing that it was the 47th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act. "This law, coupled with the US's Six Assurances to Taiwan, is not only solid proof of the continuous deepening of friendship between the two sides, but also a shared value of democracy, freedom, and human rights, and a key cornerstone for stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region."
Several US congressional members posted on social media on the same day, stating that the Taiwan Relations Act is the foundation of US-Taiwan relations, that Taiwan is an important partner of the US, and that they will continue to firmly support bilateral relations, oppose coercion, and maintain regional stability.
US Federal Representative Mario Diaz-Balart, co-chair of the "Congressional Taiwan Caucus," responded to President Lai's post on social media X, stating that nearly half a century after the US Congress passed the Taiwan Relations Act, relations between the two sides have flourished based on shared democratic values, economic ties, and bilateral security interests. As co-chair of the House Congressional Taiwan Caucus, he looks forward to continuing to strengthen bilateral relations and firmly opposing regional coercion.
Democratic Federal Representative Don Beyer, who recently visited Taiwan, posted that for nearly 50 years, the Taiwan Relations Act has protected and inspired Taiwan's democracy, strengthened mutually beneficial economic partnerships, and supported stability in the Indo-Pacific region, serving as an example of thoughtful US foreign policy.
The US continues to sell weapons to Taiwan in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act. The Six Assurances include that the US will not consult with China on arms sales to Taiwan and will not pressure Taiwan to negotiate with China. (Edited by Chen Yi-wei) 1150412
A: The Taiwan Relations Act is a US domestic law with 18 articles, approximately 4600 characters in its Chinese version. 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 Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, and the 1982 August 17 Communiqué). China, however, argues that the three joint communiqués are legally binding diplomatic documents.
A: 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 the foreign policy of the United States, 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 national defense are all based on the above provisions.
A: Yes. At the same time as the US Reagan administration signed the August 17 Communiqué with China, it privately offered Taiwan the "Six Assurances," primarily to offset the provision in the August 17 Communiqué that US arms sales to Taiwan should decrease annually. In 2016, both the US Senate and House of Representatives passed concurrent resolutions, slightly adjusting the content of the Six Assurances to Taiwan and formalizing them in congressional documents, but these two concurrent resolutions only expressed congressional positions and were not legally binding.
In addition, some pro-Taiwan members of the US Congress believe that the Taiwan Relations Act is not clear enough regarding 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 official visits between Taiwan and the US could be raised.
The US Carter administration announced in December 1978 that it would sever diplomatic relations with the Republic of China on January 1, 1979, and establish diplomatic relations with Beijing. Subsequently, the US Congress passed the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA). Then-US President Carter signed the Taiwan Relations Act on April 10, 1979, retroactively effective from January 1, 1979, to maintain US-Taiwan relations.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee's Republican caucus posted: "Today marks the 47th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act. For nearly 50 years, this law has ensured Taiwan's security and strengthened US interests in the Indo-Pacific region. To this day, the Taiwan Relations Act remains a strong bulwark against aggression from the Chinese Communist Party."
President Lai posted on Facebook on April 10, emphasizing that it was the 47th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act. "This law, coupled with the US's Six Assurances to Taiwan, is not only solid proof of the continuous deepening of friendship between the two sides, but also a shared value of democracy, freedom, and human rights, and a key cornerstone for stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region."
Several US congressional members posted on social media on the same day, stating that the Taiwan Relations Act is the foundation of US-Taiwan relations, that Taiwan is an important partner of the US, and that they will continue to firmly support bilateral relations, oppose coercion, and maintain regional stability.
US Federal Representative Mario Diaz-Balart, co-chair of the "Congressional Taiwan Caucus," responded to President Lai's post on social media X, stating that nearly half a century after the US Congress passed the Taiwan Relations Act, relations between the two sides have flourished based on shared democratic values, economic ties, and bilateral security interests. As co-chair of the House Congressional Taiwan Caucus, he looks forward to continuing to strengthen bilateral relations and firmly opposing regional coercion.
Democratic Federal Representative Don Beyer, who recently visited Taiwan, posted that for nearly 50 years, the Taiwan Relations Act has protected and inspired Taiwan's democracy, strengthened mutually beneficial economic partnerships, and supported stability in the Indo-Pacific region, serving as an example of thoughtful US foreign policy.
The US continues to sell weapons to Taiwan in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act. The Six Assurances include that the US will not consult with China on arms sales to Taiwan and will not pressure Taiwan to negotiate with China. (Edited by Chen Yi-wei) 1150412