Bill Summary
The Taiwan Representative Office Act is a bill that aims to change the name of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office to the "Taiwan Representative Office" in the United States, in order to provide the people of Taiwan with diplomatic treatment equivalent to other foreign countries. This is consistent with the policies outlined in the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances provided by President Ronald Reagan in 1982. The bill directs the Secretary of State to negotiate with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office for this name change, and any references to the previous name in US laws, regulations, and documents will be changed to the new name. It is important to note that this bill does not indicate any change in the US's diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan) or its international status.
Possible Impacts
1. This bill could affect people by potentially changing the name of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office to the Taiwan Representative Office. This could impact the perception and identity of Taiwanese individuals who are represented by this office.
2. The bill could also affect people by potentially providing de facto diplomatic treatment to the people of Taiwan. This could lead to changes in the way the United States interacts with Taiwan and its citizens.
3. If the bill is passed and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office is renamed as the Taiwan Representative Office, this could also impact how Taiwan is referred to and represented in official documents and records, potentially leading to changes in recognition and status for the country.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3180 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3180
To direct the Secretary of State to seek to enter into negotiations
with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office to rename
its office the ``Taiwan Representative Office'', and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 5, 2025
Mr. Bacon (for himself and Mr. Pappas) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of State to seek to enter into negotiations
with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office to rename
its office the ``Taiwan Representative Office'', and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Taiwan Representative Office Act''.
SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF AND REFERENCES TO TAIWAN REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE.
(a) Statement of Policy.--It shall be the policy of the United
States, consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act (Public Law 96-8; 22
U.S.C. 3301 et seq.) and the Six Assurances, originally conveyed to
Taiwan by President Ronald Reagan in 1982--
(1) to provide the people of Taiwan with de facto
diplomatic treatment equivalent to foreign countries, nations,
states, governments, or similar entities; and
(2) consistent with the policy described in paragraph (1),
to rename the ``Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative
Office'' in the United States as the ``Taiwan Representative
Office''.
(b) Renaming.--The Secretary of State shall seek to enter into
negotiations with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative
Office to rename its office in the District of Colombia as the ``Taiwan
Representative Office''.
(c) References.--If the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative
Office is renamed as the Taiwan Representative Office, any reference in
a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United
States Government to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative
Office shall be deemed to be a reference to the Taiwan Representative
Office, including for all official purposes of the Government of the
United States, all courts of the United States, and any proceedings
thereof.
(d) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be construed
as--
(1) entailing the restoration of diplomatic relations with
the Republic of China (Taiwan); or
(2) altering the position of the United States with respect
to the international status of Taiwan.
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