Paul Ryan heads for Taipei to mark 40 years of informal US-Taiwan relations
- Former US House speaker will lead large delegation in show of support for self-ruled island on key anniversary of Taiwan Relations Act
- Relations between Washington and Taipei have grown closer since US President Donald Trump took office in 2016
Former US House speaker Paul Ryan will lead a 26-member delegation to Taiwan on Monday to mark the anniversary of American legislation which has regulated relations between Washington and Taipei for the past 40 years.
The Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) was enacted on April 10, 1979 by then-president Jimmy Carter after Washington switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing. The TRA outlines US military and trade support for the self-ruled island.
The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), Washington’s de facto embassy in Taipei, said Ryan would attend a ceremony and reception on Monday at its new office complex, as well as a series of events which kick off next week to mark the passage of the act.
The visit is a show of support for the self-ruled island and was announced a day after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen spoke via video link to three prominent US think tanks in Washington, seeking assurances of continued American backing for Taiwan’s defence.
Tsai said that, because of the TRA, the US had played a significant role in helping Taiwan counter persistent coercion from Beijing over the years.