Taiwan's 'invisible' envoys to the US suffer in splendour

Even in a capital renowned for its commanding estates, Twin Oaks stands out for its understated beauty and historic pedigree. Yet, while the gala events held at other such grand homes are routine fodder for the social pages of Washington's newspapers, the owners of this particular manor tend to keep their own council. Reason: it is, in fact, a figurative embassy - a virtually invisible embassy, but an embassy nonetheless.

More than a quarter of a century ago, when China was granted membership to the UN, the US was forced to end formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. But 90 days after that historic event, the US Congress signed the Taiwan Relations Act, in April 1979, which authorised the 'continuation of commercial, cultural and other relations between the people of the United States and the people on Taiwan'.

Ever since then, the US and the island have maintained a close, but discreet, relationship. This is especially so during Republican administrations, and never more so than with the current Bush administration.

In fact, soon after starting his first term, US President George W. Bush told a television interviewer that the US would 'do whatever it takes' to defend Taiwan.

The US president's seemingly casual comments set off alarms bell among Washington's China watchers, because it appeared to be a remarkable break with previous policy, whereby for decades the US, under previous administrations, had maintained a 'strategic ambiguity' about whether it would intervene directly in a conflict between Taiwan and the mainland. In a second interview soon afterwards, Mr Bush backpedalled, indicating that his commitment to Taiwan's defence would not pertain if the island declared independence. But the original avowal left a warm spot in the hearts of Taiwan's non-diplomats in Washington.

Taipei and Washington have long consulted on security affairs, as well as on cultural and educational exchanges. Outside of Asia, the US is the single most popular tourist destination and last year Taiwanese made nearly half a million direct trips there. At any given time about 30,000 Taiwanese students are attending American universities.