The United States has unveiled a new $256 million, fortified building in Taiwan’s capital city, Taipei, to be used as its de facto embassy, at a time when the Trump administration has been gradually strengthening its ties with the democratic island nation against Beijing’s increasingly aggressive posturing.
Despite not having official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, the United States has maintained the American Institute in Taipei (AIT), which has been effectively functioning as the de facto U.S. Embassy since it was established in 1979.
The AIT performs most of the same functions as other U.S. embassies, including issuing visas. Though it legally exists as a private organization, it is staffed by career diplomats and other employees of the U.S. State Department.
Since 2009, the AIT began constructing a new site in Taipei’s burgeoning Neihu District, which spans about 16 acres and is a significant upgrade from the low-key military building that AIT previously used for decades.
The massive building is “a symbol of the close cooperation and enduring friendship between the United States and Taiwan,” said AIT Director Kin Moy at the opening ceremony.
For the opening of the new compound, the United States sent Marie Royce, the assistant secretary of state for educational and cultural affairs, as its highest attendee. Royce is the wife of U.S. House Representative Ed Royce (R-Calif.), one of the most outspoken supporters for strengthening U.S.–Taiwan ties in Congress.
Observers speculated that sending a top official like Bolton to Taiwan could invite a strong reaction from Beijing, which considers Taiwan to be part of its territory. This is despite the fact that no U.S. or international law prohibits American officials, even the president, from traveling to Taiwan and meeting with Taiwanese counterparts.
Even so, China’s Foreign Ministry said they lodged “stern representations” with Washington about the new building and Royce’s attendance.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-Wen attended the ceremony and said that as a free and open democracy, Taiwan has an obligation to work with others to defend shared values and protect joint interests.
“This day was years in the making so we can credit Bush, Obama, and Trump for following through on the facility,” said Rupert Hammond-Chambers, president of the U.S.–Taiwan Business Council. “There’s no escaping the fact that this is a significant symbol of the enduring US commitment to Taiwan.”
A U.S. bill titled “Taiwan Travel Act” was passed unanimously by Congress and signed into law by Trump in March, which stipulates that the U.S. administration should conduct more high-level official exchanges with Taiwan.
It remains unclear whether AIT’s new compound will be guarded by active service U.S. Marine Corps soldiers, which are a standard feature among all other U.S. embassies around the world.
Speaking to the press on June 12, AIT Director Kin Moy did not confirm or deny the rumor. However, the new compound is known to contain a building named “Marine House.” The presence of U.S. Marines could have significant political ramifications, as any attack on the compound and resulting casualties could be seen as an attack on the U.S. military itself.