aiwan cheered, China upset after Trump signs new Taiwan legislation

3/12/2025 16:18

Taiwan expressed thanks and China was upset Wednesday after US President Donald Trump signed into law legislation requiring the U.S. State Department to regularly review and update guidelines on how the United States officially interacts with Taipei.



The United States is Taiwan's most important international backer despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties, and the issue is a constant source of irritation in Sino-U.S. relations given Beijing views the democratically-governed island as its own.



In 2021 under the first Trump administration, then Secretary of State Mike Pompeo lifted restrictions on contacts between U.S. officials and their Taiwanese counterparts, put in place after Washington recognised Beijing in 1979.



The Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act, which Trump signed into law Tuesday, says the U.S. State Department should carry out reviews of contacts with Taiwan no less than once every five years.



The law "affirms the value of U.S. interaction with Taiwan, supports closer Taiwan-U.S. relations, and stands as a firm symbol of our shared values of democracy, freedom, and respect for human rights", this according to Taiwan Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo.