The Taiwan Relations Act at 40: It’s Time to Deepen Ties

April 10 marks the 40th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act becoming the law of the land. The statute was a striking example of a Democratic-controlled Congress pushing back against a Democratic President’s decision to break diplomatic ties with the Republic of China (Taiwan).

On December 15, 1978, officials in Beijing and Washington announced that formal relations between the People’s Republic and the United States would commence with the New Year. In exchange, Beijing demanded that the United States end relations with Taiwan and withdraw from its security treaty with the island state.