Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) & AIT @40: Celebrating 40 Years of Friendship

On April 15, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) held an event to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of the TRA at new office compound in Neihu, Taipei.  The former speaker Paul Ryan led a 20 plus delegation to bring the warmest regards from the Trump Administration and Taiwan’s countless friends in Washington.  Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson, Chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, joined AIT Chairman James Moriarty and AIT Director Brent Christensen in offering remarks at the celebration.  President Tsai Ing-wen and other prominent individuals also attended the ceremony.  Following the ceremony, AIT hosted a reception highlighting forty years of U.S.-Taiwan partnership and friendship.  From April 15 through April 17, AIT and MOFA, in cooperation with Taipei 101, sponsored a light display on the side of Taipei 101 celebrating forty year friendship and partnership.   During the ceremony, President Tsai said “The TRA is more than just a policy.  It is a commitment to the values of freedom and democracy.   So on this special day, let’s pledge to bring this enduring partnership to the next level.  Let’s turn Taiwan into a regional hub that connects Asia and the rest of the world, so that the beacon of democracy can bring the light of hope to people longing to be free.  Taiwan and the US have achieved so much together over the past four decades.  I have every reason to believe that even as we are here today to honor the past, and celebrate the present, the best is yet to come.”    As the head of the US delegation, Paul Ryan delivered a short speech.   The followings are some of his remarks: “The strategy of the United States is to ensure that freedom and openness flourish in Indo-Pacific region.  In this endeavor, we couldn’t ask for a better friend than Taiwan.  Taiwan is a democratic success story, a reliable partner, and a force for good in the world.  Vice President Pence captured it well in his speech last October outlining U.S. policy toward China when he said “American will always believe that Taiwan’s embrace of democracy shows a better path for all the Chinese people”, and for that matter, for all people wherever they call home.”