Rep. Don Bacon
In a show of respect for an American ally, U.S. Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) on May 5 sponsored a bipartisan bill that would direct the U.S. Secretary of State to negotiate with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office to rename its office to the Taiwan Representative Office.
“Taiwan is our friend, and we are treating them like second-class people because of the pressure and bullying by China,” Rep. Bacon said. “We want to elevate what we call their diplomatic facilities and their senior diplomatic representative. Taiwan deserves better from the world’s superpower for freedom.”
The Taiwan Representative Office Act, H.R. 3180, which is cosponsored by U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH), would not restore diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan) or alter the position of the United States with respect to the international status of Taiwan, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Bacon’s staff.
Currently named the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S., the office represents the interests of Taiwan in the U.S. in the absence of formal diplomatic relations, functioning as a de facto embassy. Its counterpart in Taiwan is the office of the American Institute in Taiwan in Taipei.
“We must continue to strengthen our diplomatic partnership with our democratic ally Taiwan as they face continued threats from Xi Jinping’s authoritarian regime,” said Rep. Pappas. “This bipartisan policy would properly recognize Taiwan’s de facto embassy in Washington to demonstrate our continued support and counter Xi Jinping’s attempts to intimidate Taiwan and other allies.”
H.R. 3180 has been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee.