Bill Summary
This legislation, called the "Taiwan Representative Office Act", is a bill that directs the Secretary of State to enter into negotiations with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office to rename it as the "Taiwan Representative Office". This is in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances, which aim to provide Taiwan with de facto diplomatic treatment equivalent to other foreign countries. The bill also states that if the office is renamed, all references to the previous name in government documents and records will be changed to the new name. This legislation does not alter the United States' position on the international status of Taiwan or establish diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan).
Possible Impacts
1. If the bill is passed, it could potentially lead to improved relations and recognition of Taiwan as a sovereign nation, which could affect the daily lives of Taiwanese people and their standing in the international community.
2. The name change of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office to the Taiwan Representative Office could have a significant impact on the business and trade relations between the United States and Taiwan, affecting businesses and consumers in both countries.
3. The passage of this bill could potentially lead to changes in the immigration policies and visa processes for Taiwanese citizens, as they may be granted diplomatic treatment equivalent to foreign countries. This could affect the ability of Taiwanese people to travel to and work in the United States.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 974 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 974
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 SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 12, 2025
Mr. Curtis (for himself and Mr. Merkley) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
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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