Tiffany’s Resolution to End “One China Policy,” Expand Diplomatic, Economic Ties with Taiwan Reaches Important Milestone
WASHINGTON, DC – A resolution that Congressman Tom Tiffany (WI-07) introduced to resume formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan and end the outdated, counter-productive, and dishonest “One China Policy” now has the support of 50 House Republicans. This milestone shows the growing support in Congress to recognize Taiwan as a free, democratic, and independent country.
“It is long past time for U.S. policy to reflect the objective reality that Taiwan has never been under the control of the People’s Republic of China or part of its territory for even a single day,” said Congressman Tiffany. “This important milestone shows that momentum is growing to turn the page on this failed 1970s-era policy.”
Background:
The U.S. maintained normal diplomatic relations with the government in Taiwan until 1979 when then-President Jimmy Carter abruptly cut off formal ties with Taipei and recognized the Communist regime in Beijing.
Lawmakers responded by approving the bipartisan Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), the cornerstone of continued U.S. ties with the island. President Reagan upgraded the relationship during his term with the “Six Assurances,” which made clear that the United States, which has never accepted Communist China’s claims of sovereignty over Taiwan, “has not altered its position.”
Despite the TRA and the "Six Assurances," the U.S. still lacks formal ties with Taiwan, inexplicably treating the island's democratically elected government the same way it treats brutal regimes in North Korea and Iran from a diplomatic perspective – and in a category worse than that of Cuba's dictatorship, which President Obama and Vice President Biden recognized during their second term.
In the 116th Congress (2019-2020), Congressman Tiffany’s legislation had just one cosponsor. This Congress, it has already grown to 50 cosponsors.
The full text of Congressman Tiffany’s resolution is available here. You can also read more here.
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