After Tsai Ing-wen was inaugurated as President of Taiwan in 2016, the People's Republic of China started an extensive campaign to isolate the island state internationally, and by 2019 the number of countries maintaining official relations with Taipei had fallen from 22 to 15. Meanwhile, following the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president, U.S.–China relations had deteriorated, especially since the start of the China–United States trade war in 2018. While Taiwan felt its international space shrinking, relations with the US saw major breakthroughs, including a phone call between Trump and Tsai, the passage of the Taiwan Travel Act, and cabinet-level meetings between the two countries. In order to disincentivize remaining countries to switch recognition away from Taiwan, and to allow the island greater participation in international organizations, the TAIPEI Act was conceived.
Provisions
Provisions of the TAIPEI Act state that the U.S. should:
Advocate, as appropriate, for Taiwan’s membership in all international organizations in which statehood is not a requirement and in which the United States is also a participant; and for Taiwan to be granted observer status in other appropriate international organizations;
To instruct, as appropriate, representatives of the United States Government in all organizations to use the voice, vote, and influence of the United States to advocate for Taiwan’s membership or observer status in such organizations;
To advocate, as appropriate, for Taiwan’s membership or observer status in all organizations as part of any relevant bilateral engagements between the United States and the People’s Republic of China, including leader summits and the U.S.-China Comprehensive Economic Dialogue.
Reaction
Taiwan
After the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed the act, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen expressed thanks and said that "her country will continue to work with the U.S. to contribute to the peaceful and stable development of the Indo-Pacific Region."
China opposed the passing of the act, calling the move a severe violation of the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques. It reiterated its stance that China has long been opposed to any form of official exchanges between Taiwan and the United States.
United States
underlined the bipartisan support that helped pass the act and stated that it "celebrates and supports Taiwan’s commitment to democracy, by preserving and promoting its position on the international stage."
