The US House of Representatives passed the America Competes Act on Friday which calls for the renaming of Taiwan’s office in the US to the Taiwan Representative Office. It is currently called the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECRO).
It says that it is US policy to refer to Taiwan as “Taiwan” and not “Taipei” or “Chinese Taipei”. It calls on the Secretary of State to enter into talks with Taiwan to rename the office.
The bill says: “The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office is inaptly named as it works to cultivate the extensive, close, and friendly commercial, cultural, and other relations between the people of the United States and the people, organizations, and enterprises of Taiwan, not merely those in Taipei.”
It noted that in May 2019, the Taiwanese counterpart to the American Institute in Taiwan, the Coordination Council for North American Affairs, was renamed the ‘‘Taiwan Council for U.S. Affairs’’.
The bill includes many sections on Taiwan including the Taiwan diplomatic review, the Taiwan Peace and Stability Act, the Taiwan International Solidarity Act and the Taiwan Fellowship Program.
The act recognizes the growing threat of China towards Taiwan and calls for a wide range of measures to “reinforce Taiwan’s diplomatic, economic, and physical space” as well as defense capabilities to deter a cross-strait conflict. It also calls for the advancement of Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations such as the World Health Organization.
The America Competes Act covers a wide range of issues aimed to strengthen the US’s competitiveness. President Joe Biden welcomed the passage of the act in a statement that said it will help the US compete with China “from a position of strength”. The Senate passed the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act in June and talks will begin to write a version both chambers agree upon for Biden’s signature.