	Introduction

Taiwan, which officially calls itself the Republic of China (ROC), is an island democracy of 23 million people located across the Taiwan Strait from mainland China and north of the Philippines. Since January 1, 1979, the U.S. relationship with Taiwan has been unofficial, a consequence of the Carter Administration's decision to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China (PRC) and break formal diplomatic ties with self-ruled Taiwan, over which the PRC claims sovereignty. The Taiwan Relations Act (TRA, P.L. 96-8 ; 22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq. ), enacted on April 10, 1979, provides a legal basis for the unofficial U.S.-Taiwan relationship. Long-standing issues for U.S. policy, including for Congress, include how to balance support for Taiwan's democracy, prosperity, and security with the U.S. interest in peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the desire for constructive relations with the PRC, whose global influence continues to grow. With the landslide victory of President Tsai and her traditionally China-skeptic Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in Taiwan's January 2016 elections, Taiwan's relations with the PRC entered a new, less stable, era. The PRC has suspended communications mechanisms across the Taiwan Strait, established diplomatic relations with three countries that previously recognized Taiwan, pressured host countries to force Taiwan's unofficial representative offices to change their names, blocked Taiwan's participation as an observer at international meetings, stepped up deployments of the PRC military near Taiwan, reduced the number of mainland Chinese tourists visiting Taiwan, demanded that other countries return Taiwan citizens accused of crimes to the PRC, rather than Taiwan, and, for the first time, tried a Taiwan activist on charges of attempted subversion of the PRC state. In its management of Taiwan policy, the executive branch has sought to assure the PRC that the United States is upholding its commitments to the PRC and is not conferring "officiality" on the U.S.-Taiwan relationship. At the same time, it has sought to demonstrate to Taiwan and Taiwan's supporters in the United States that it is honoring the Taiwan Relations Act, which includes security commitments related to Taiwan. H.R. The guidelines, which are updated periodically, are intended to distinguish the unofficial U.S.-Taiwan relationship from the official relationships that the United States maintains with diplomatic partners. Initially, support was focused on arms sales; the Taiwan Relations Act states that " ... the United States will make available to Taiwan such defense articles and defense services in such quantity as may be necessary to enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability." Starting in 1997, after the Taiwan Strait crisis of 1995-1996 (see box below), the security relationship broadened to include dialogues, training and military education opportunities for Taiwan military personnel, and assessments of Taiwan's military capabilities, defense bureaucracy, and procurement procedures. The House version of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2018 ( H.R. H.R. 271 would call on the USTR to begin negotiations with Taiwan for a bilateral trade agreement. After eight years of relative stability in cross-Strait relations during the two presidential terms of the KMT's Ma Ying-jeou, from May 2008 to May 2016, tensions are on the rise under President Tsai. The main point of disagreement between the two sides is the long-standing issue of Taiwan's sovereignty, and specifically Beijing's insistence that President Tsai commit to the notion that Taiwan and mainland China are parts of "one China," and President Tsai's unwillingness to make such a commitment. The PRC has long threatened to use force, if necessary, to bring about Taiwan's unification with mainland China. The U.S. P.L. In the 115 th Congress, H.R. Among other bills, The Taiwan Travel Act ( S. 1051 (Rubio) and its companion, H.R. H.Res.
Taiwan, which officially calls itself the Republic of China (ROC), is an island democracy of 23 million people located across the Taiwan Strait from mainland China. It is the United States' tenth-largest trading partner. Since January 1, 1979, the U.S. relationship with Taiwan has been unofficial, a consequence of the Carter Administration's decision to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China (PRC) and break formal diplomatic ties with self-ruled Taiwan, over which the PRC claims sovereignty. The Taiwan Relations Act (TRA, P.L. 96-8; 22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.), enacted on April 10, 1979, provides a legal basis for the unofficial U.S.-Taiwan relationship. It also includes commitments related to Taiwan's security.
The PRC considers unofficiality in the U.S.-Taiwan relationship to be the basis for the U.S.-PRC relationship. Some Members of Congress have urged the executive branch to re-visit rules intended to distinguish the unofficial U.S.-Taiwan relationship from official U.S. relationships with diplomatic partners, in order to accord Taiwan greater dignity and respect.
The PRC continues to threaten the use of force to bring about Taiwan's unification with mainland China. Beijing codified that threat in 2005, in the form of an Anti-Secession Law. The United States terminated its Treaty of Mutual Defense with Taiwan as of January 1, 1980, but on the basis of the Taiwan Relations Act, it has remained involved in supporting Taiwan's military. Initially, support was focused on arms sales, which Taiwan Relations Act calls for "to enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability." Starting in 1997, the security relationship broadened to include dialogues, training and military education opportunities for Taiwan military personnel, and support for other "non-hardware aspects of military capability."
After eight years of relative stability in the cross-Strait relationship during the administration of former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou (2008-2016), tensions between Taiwan and the PRC leadership have risen under current President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). The main point of disagreement is the long-standing issue of Taiwan's sovereignty. Beijing insists that President Tsai commit to the notion that Taiwan and mainland China are parts of "one China." President Tsai has been unwilling to make such a commitment.
Since President Tsai's election in January 2016, Beijing has progressively increased pressure on her government. Among other moves, it has established diplomatic relations with three countries that previously recognized Taiwan, pressured host countries to force Taiwan's unofficial representative offices to change their names, blocked Taiwan's participation as an observer at international meetings, stepped up deployments of the PRC military near Taiwan, reduced the number of mainland Chinese tourists visiting Taiwan, demanded that other countries return Taiwan citizens accused of crimes to the PRC, rather than Taiwan, and, for the first time, tried a Taiwan activist on charges of attempted subversion of the PRC state. Questions for Congress include whether the U.S. government should seek to support Taiwan in the face of mounting pressure from the PRC, and if so, how to balance such support with the U.S. interest in peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the desire for constructive relations with the PRC
The 115th Congress passed FY2017 appropriations legislation (P.L. 115-31) to fund the American Institute in Taiwan, through which the United States conducts relations with Taiwan. FY2018 appropriations legislation (H.R. 3354 and S. 1780) is pending. Other pending legislation includes the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2018 (H.R. 2810 and S. 1519), the Taiwan Security Act of 2017 (S. 1620), the Strengthening Security in the Indo-Asia-Pacific Act (H.R. 2621), the Taiwan Travel Act (S. 1051 and H.R. 535), a bill "To direct the Secretary of State to regain observer status for Taiwan in the World Health Organization" (H.R. 3320), and a resolution calling for negotiations to enter into a bilateral trade agreement with Taiwan (H.Res. 271).