In commemoration of the 45th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles, in collaboration with the UCLA Asia Pacific Center and the Berkeley Center for International Relations, organized the “Forum on US-Taiwan-China Trilateral Relations: Commemorating the 45th Anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act.” Invited guests engaged in discussions to provide in-depth analysis of the past, present, and future of Taiwan-US-China relations.
On the evening of June 5th, Chinese-American cross-strait issues expert and Claremont McKenna College political scientist Minxin Pei, along with David Kang, Director of the USC Center for International Studies and the Korean Studies Institute, spoke at the renowned art exhibition space “Studio of Stefan Simchowitz and Rosi Riedl” near the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The event attracted over 50 members of the consular corps from various countries, elected officials, media representatives, business leaders, and community leaders. In addition to academics, attendees included the Consuls General of South Korea, Romania, and the Honorary Consul of Switzerland, as well as representatives from the Philippine Consulate.
Director Ji Qingyao of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office emphasized that since the TRA came into effect in 1979, it has served as a cornerstone for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, facilitating exchanges in business, culture, and various other fields between Taiwan and the United States. Taiwan’s technological and economic strength in recent years has been widely recognized, drawing global attention to cross-strait issues. As a democratic nation, Taiwan remains one of the strongest partners of the United States in the Indo-Pacific region. He expressed Taiwan’s gratitude for the support from the U.S. over the past 45 years and pledged to enhance cooperation with like-minded countries, hoping to make progress on bilateral issues of mutual concern such as double taxation avoidance between Taiwan and the U.S.
Ji Qingyao also pointed out that the Chinese Communist authorities continue to distort United Nations resolutions, falsely claiming Taiwan as part of the People’s Republic of China. Therefore, the Taiwanese people appreciate the clarification of the content of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 by Mark Lambert, Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. State Department, and the recent remarks by Daniel Kritenbrink, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, in a Senate hearing, to rectify the mistaken interpretation by China. Looking ahead, Taiwan will continue to work closely with the U.S. to address future challenges, uphold peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and promote shared values and interests of both sides.
Professors Minxin Pei and David Kang reviewed the impact of the Taiwan Relations Act since 1979, reflecting on the historical context of Taiwan-US-China relations and analyzing the current international situation.
Minxin Pei pointed out that the Taiwan Relations Act strengthened official and unofficial exchanges between Taiwan and the United States in economic and cultural aspects, providing legal support for the exchanges between both sides. However, after 45 years, the Act is not as significant as before, as U.S. diplomatic support and security commitments to Taiwan have far exceeded the content of the TRA. “Today, the U.S.-Taiwan relationship is at a position that the creators of the TRA could not have imagined.”
David Kang, an expert in Asian political economy with a Korean background, believes that through the TRA and other agreements, the U.S., Taiwan, and mainland China have created a status quo that is beneficial to all three parties. While the status quo is not perfect, it has been effective in promoting regional stability and prosperity. He believes that the situation in the Taiwan Strait, compared to the Korean Peninsula, remains relatively stable.
Attendees actively raised questions and discussed the future prospects of Taiwan. The organizers also provided a rich selection of Taiwanese cuisine and drinks to treat the guests.