U.S. senators introduce bill to rename Taiwan's de facto embassy in Washington

Washington, March 12 (CNA) A bipartisan bill was put forward Wednesday in the United States Senate with the aim of renaming Taiwan's representative office in Washington to reflect "the reality" that it represents the people of Taiwan, the sponsors said.

The proposed Taiwan Representative Office Act seeks to change the name of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) to the Taiwan Representative Office (TRO).

The bill "underscores the United States' commitment to Taiwan's democracy and enhances clarity in the U.S.-Taiwan relationship," according to a press release issued by Republican Senator John Curtis, who was the sponsor along with Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley.

In 2023 and 2024, similar bills were introduced in the House of Representatives and the Senate but did not gain enough traction to pass in either chamber.

Curtis, who was then a member of the House, put forth one of the bills, while then-Senator Marco Rubio sponsored the other, during the last two years of Joe Biden's presidency.

Taiwan's representative offices in countries with which it does not have diplomatic ties are typically named the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office or the Taipei Representative Office, in keeping with the host countries' preference to avoid any references that would imply Taiwan is a separate country from China.

Since the U.S. and Taiwan, officially named the Republic of China, ended official ties in 1979, the latter's Washington office as been called TECRO.

On Wednesday, Curtis was quoted as saying in the press release that the U.S. should not tolerate pressure from China "to undermine the Taiwanese people."

Instead, the U.S. should "stand by its democratic allies and friends around the world facing pressure and coercion from authoritarian regimes," he said. "By renaming TECRO as the Taiwan Representative Office, our bill acknowledges the reality that this office represents the people of Taiwan, not just the economic interests of the city of Taipei."

Meanwhile, Merkley said that the bipartisan bill demonstrates the U.S.' longstanding commitment to supporting Taiwan by properly recognizing its status.

"We must continue to send a strong message that the United States will use all resources at our disposal to foster healthy, robust relationships with our democratic partners, including Taiwan," Merkley was quoted as saying in the press release.

The two senators also said that changing TECRO's name would not violate the U.S.' "one China" policy or alter its position on Taiwan's international status.

Based on the proposed legislation, the two senators said, the U.S. secretary of state should negotiate the name change with Taiwan's representative office in Washington.

If the renaming effort succeeds, all U.S. government documents, laws, maps and records referring to TECRO would be updated to TRO, according to the bill.