Calling for U.S.-Taiwan Diplomatic Ties (Not yet reintroduced in 119th Congress)
Taiwan has long met all the criteria of statehood under international law, including a permanent population, a defined territory, a central government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states. As a result, Taiwan has existed as a sovereign, independent state for decades and deserves formal recognition from and diplomatic relations with all other nations.
Nonetheless, due to its “One China policy,” the United States maintains only unofficial relations with Taiwan. Although the U.S. “One China policy” merely “acknowledges” rather than “recognizes” the Chinese position that Taiwan is part of China, this policy has led to dangerous misinterpretations by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and widespread public misconceptions that the U.S. “accepts” the PRC’s sovereignty claim over Taiwan.
For many people, it is easy to confuse the U.S.’ “One China policy” with the PRC’s fictitious “One China principle,” which falsely asserts that Taiwan is “an inalienable part of China.”
The United States maintains normal diplomatic ties with nearly every country, except for Syria, North Korea, Iran, Bhutan, and Taiwan. Given that Taiwan is a key U.S. geopolitical ally in the first island chain, a full-fledged democracy that upholds human rights, and one of the world’s most important trading economies, the U.S. should conduct another Taiwan Policy Review and move toward normalizing its relations with Taiwan.
A House resolution calling for the resumption of normal U.S.-Taiwan diplomatic relations also urges the U.S. to abandon its antiquated “One China policy,” support Taiwan’s “full membership” in the United Nations and other international organizations, and negotiate a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Taiwan.