Experts divided on proposed name change for Taiwan's de facto embassy in U.S.

Washington, March 14 (CNA) Experts have expressed mixed opinions on a bipartisan U.S. Senate proposal to rename Taiwan's de facto embassy in Washington D.C., with some praising its symbolic significance while others warned of potential risks amid rising cross-strait tensions.

The bill, introduced on March 12, seeks to rename the "Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office" (TECRO) to the "Taiwan Representative Office" to better reflect "the reality" that it represents the people of Taiwan, according to its sponsors.

Republican Senator John Curtis, who co-sponsored the bill with Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley, stated in a press release that the legislation "underscores the United States' commitment to Taiwan's democracy and enhances clarity in the U.S.-Taiwan relationship."

In response, Global Taiwan Institute Executive Director Russell Hsiao (蕭良基) told CNA that there is hesitation within the policy community, and even among Taiwan supporters, to back what some view as symbolic gestures over more substantive measures.

"In my view, such criticisms are misplaced and symbolism has substance in the cross-strait context," he said.

Meanwhile, Bonnie Glaser, director of the Indo-Pacific program at the German Marshall Fund, cautioned that Taiwan should instead prioritize strengthening its defense and national security amid growing threats from China.

"I believe this is not the moment to focus on symbolic measures that could result in even more intense threats from Beijing," she said.

Julian Ku, a Hofstra University law professor, noted that while the bill enjoys broad congressional support, it may not be a legislative priority.

"(The proposal) seems more like a political issue related to what is going on in Congress right now, and my impression is that while there is broad support for a bill like this, it is just not very high on the agenda given all of the other priorities in Congress," Ku said.

He also pointed out that a name change actually does not require congressional approval -- Secretary of State Marco Rubio has the authority to approve it, but the timing remains uncertain amid upcoming U.S.-China diplomatic engagements.

Richard Bush, a Brookings Institution nonresident senior fellow, echoed that the final decision rests with President Donald Trump. While Rubio had previously introduced similar legislation as a senator, Bush noted that his current role as secretary of state means the decision will ultimately be shaped by Trump's broader China policy.

In 2023 and 2024, similar bills were introduced in both the House and Senate but failed to gain traction. Curtis, then a House member, introduced one of the bills, while then-Senator Rubio sponsored the other during 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 known as the Republic of China, severed diplomatic ties in 1979, Taiwan's Washington office has been referred to as TECRO.