As a leading democracy and a technological powerhouse, Taiwan is a key U.S. partner in the Indo-Pacific. Though the United States does not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, we have a robust unofficial relationship. The United States and Taiwan share similar values, deep commercial and economic links, and strong people-to-people ties, which form the bedrock of our friendship and serve as the impetus for expanding U.S. engagement with Taiwan.
Through the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), a non-profit corporation mandated by the Taiwan Relations Act to carry out the United States’ unofficial relations with Taiwan, our cooperation with Taiwan continues to expand. Taiwan has become an important U.S. partner in trade and investment, semiconductors and other critical supply chains, investment screening, science and technology, health, education, and advancing democratic values.
The United States’ approach to Taiwan has remained consistent across decades and administrations. The United States has a longstanding one China policy, which is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the three Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances. We continue to have an abiding interest in peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. We oppose any unilateral changes to the status quo from either side. We expect cross-Strait differences to be resolved by peaceful means, free from coercion, in a manner acceptable to the people on both sides of the Strait. Consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act, the United States makes available defense articles and services as necessary to enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability – and maintains the capacity to resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security, or the social or economic system, of the people on Taiwan.
Foreign Representation
AIT performs citizen and consular services similar to those at diplomatic posts and maintains a contract with the Department of State. Raymond Greene is the Taipei-based AIT Director. Other key personnel are listed on AIT’s website . Taiwan maintains the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO) in Washington, DC. Taiwan also engages and provides services across the United States through Taipei Economic and Cultural Offices (TECOs).
Economic Relations
Taiwan is a highly advanced economy and a key link in global technology and manufacturing supply chains. The United States and Taiwan have longstanding, deep, and growing trade and investment ties, which advance U.S. interests and help create economic opportunities in the United States. Since 2020, the United States and Taiwan, under the auspices of AIT and TECRO, launched the Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue (EPPD) to enhance economic and commercial ties, including supply chain security and resilience, countering economic coercion, energy security, and investment screening. The Department of Commerce delivers commercial programs to support U.S. exports to Taiwan and Taiwan investment in the U.S. in emerging technologies critical to U.S. national security.
Taiwan is the United States’ seventh-largest trading partner, and the United States is Taiwan’s second-largest trading partner. U.S. exports of goods and services to Taiwan support at least 200,000 jobs in the United States. In December 2024, the first agreement under the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative for 21st Century Trade entered into force. The agreement covers trade facilitation, customs, anticorruption, and support for small and medium-sized businesses. Foreign direct investment (FDI) from Taiwan into the United States has increased significantly since 2009, with the stock of direct investment reaching $21.5 billion in 2023. Taiwan’s direct investment in the United States is led by semiconductors, manufacturing, and wholesale trade. As of 2021, FDI from Taiwan directly supported an estimated 22,100 jobs in the United States and $2.4 billion in U.S. exports.
Science and Technology Cooperation
AIT and TECRO signed a Science and Technology Agreement in 2020 to enhance scientific cooperation and joint research. The United States and Taiwan engage in joint scientific cooperative endeavors in areas including meteorology, nuclear science, environmental protection, thoracic cancer research, atmospheric research, and public health and preventative medicine. In 2024, Taiwan’s National Science and Technology Council established two IC Hubs in Taiwan to enhance collaboration with the Pentagon’s Microelectronics Commons.
People-to-People Ties
People-to-people ties between the United States and Taiwan are strong and continue to grow. The United States is the top long-haul destination for Taiwan’s outbound travelers. In 2024, the United States welcomed 346,174 visitors from Taiwan, which was a 16 percent increase over the previous year. Taiwan is the United States’ fifth largest source of international students, sending more than 23,000 students to receive a high-quality education during the 2023-24 academic year. The United States also sponsors study abroad opportunities in Taiwan for U.S. students from the high school to post-graduate levels, with a particular focus on Mandarin language learning. Since 1958, the Fulbright Program has supported 2,600 individuals to study and teach in Taiwan and 1,900 to come to the United States. In 2024, 200 American Fulbrighters taught English, studied, or conducted research on Taiwan and 75 Taiwan Fulbrighters came to the United States. In December 2020, AIT and TECRO, with participation from the U.S. Department of Education, launched the U.S.-Taiwan Education Initiative . The main goal of this initiative is to provide increased opportunities for cooperation between U.S. and Taiwan institutions in bilingual education and other academic exchanges.
Taiwan’s Role in the International Community
The United States will continue to support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations, including membership where applicable. Taiwan and the United States are members of several international organizations and bodies, including the World Trade Organization, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, and the Asian Development Bank. In June 2015, AIT and TECRO established the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF), an international platform that expands Taiwan’s international engagement, strengthens its ties with other countries, and advances shared foreign policy objectives. Under the framework, Taiwan, the United States, and other partners leverage expertise to develop and strengthen national capabilities in diverse fields from disaster relief to supply chain resilience. Japan, Australia, and Canada joined GCTF as partners in 2019, 2021, and 2024, respectively.
More information about Taiwan is available from the Department of State and other sources, some of which are listed here:
