All articles tagged with #taiwan relations act
US President Donald Trump said he would speak with Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te about a possible arms sale, a marked break from diplomatic protocol that could affect US‑China‑Taiwan dynamics as Taipei ramps up its defence. Washington is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act to provide defensive weapons, while Beijing protests official exchanges with Taiwan.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said there is 'no change' in U.S. policy toward Taiwan and attempted to walk back President Trump's remarks about delaying a $14 billion arms sale, noting the timing and details would come from the president. Trump had suggested he hasn’t approved the sale and could use it as a bargaining chip with China, comments that could raise questions about adherence to the Six Assurances and the Taiwan Relations Act. Lawmakers including House Speaker Mike Johnson stressed support for Taiwan, while a December arms package had already been approved.
US congressional visits to Taiwan are viewed differently in Washington and Beijing, with China seeing them as a provocation and interference in its internal affairs, while Taiwan sees them as a show of support for its distinct identity and democratic values. These visits, actively encouraged by Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen, serve as a low-cost way for the US to reassure Taiwan and increase confidence in the US-Taiwan relationship. However, they also provoke Beijing, as seen in its response to Nancy Pelosi's visit in 2022. The visits symbolize solidarity with a fellow democracy and are a way for US politicians to demonstrate their anti-China credentials to voters, but the substantive aspects of US-Taiwan relations, such as high-level exchanges on intelligence and defense, remain largely unpublicized.