A bipartisan coalition of a dozen U.S. senators has urged the Trump administration to avoid any unilateral changes to longstanding American policy toward Taiwan, just as President Donald Trump arrived in China for a high-stakes meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
In a letter dated Tuesday addressed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the senators stressed their support for the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), which has governed unofficial U.S.-Taiwan ties for nearly five decades. The lawmakers wrote that there should be “no unilateral changes to this policy nor any new declaratory policy on Taiwan,” according to the letter first reported by Semafor.
The TRA, enacted after the U.S. shifted diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing, allows Washington to treat Taiwan as a foreign entity for certain purposes without formal diplomatic recognition. It also commits the United States to provide Taiwan with defense articles and services necessary to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability.
“For nearly five decades, the TRA has been the cornerstone of U.S.-Taiwan ties, enabling a strong and mutually beneficial relationship,” the senators wrote. They emphasized that the legislation has helped ensure peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, which they described as essential to American interests in the region and across the Indo-Pacific.
The letter was signed by Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), John Curtis (R-Utah), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
The warning comes as Trump landed in China on Wednesday for his first state visit there in nine years. The agenda for the meeting includes trade, technology, Iran, and the fate of detained activists, with Taiwan expected to be a central topic. Earlier this week, top House Democrats also urged Trump to approve a $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan before his meeting with Xi, underscoring bipartisan concern over potential concessions.
Beijing considers Taiwan a breakaway province and has repeatedly stated its willingness to use force to bring the island under its control. The senators’ letter reflects a broader push to maintain the status quo and avoid any perception that the U.S. is weakening its commitment to Taiwan’s self-defense.
“Maintaining this commitment is necessary to ensure the credibility of U.S. security commitments to allies and partners in the region and beyond,” the senators wrote. The State Department has not yet responded to a request for comment on the letter.
