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in: US Foreign Policy Toward Taiwan, Sabella Ogbobode Abidde,Tony Tai-Ting Liu, Editor, Springer Nature, Alabama, pp.99-112, 2025
Although the first outbreak of direct conflict in the Taiwan Strait occurred over 70 years ago, the USA did not introduce the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) until 1979—a document that serves as the cornerstone of US-Taiwan relations today. Adopting the TRA by the USA is a turning point for US-Taiwan ties. The Act aims to ensure a close relationship between the USA and Taiwan and maintain peace, stability, and security in the Western Pacific area. The Act also stipulates that the USA can provide defense equipment and forces to Taiwan if it deems the situation necessary to protect the people in Taiwan and its economy, social life, and security (H.R.2479—96th Congress (1979–1980). Due to the TRA, Taiwan became a crucial US partner in the Indo-Pacific region.