Dwight D. Eisenhower committed America to defending Formosa in 1955.
Dwight D. Eisenhower . He continued Truman 's policy of recognizing the Republic of China as the legitimate government of China , and he won congressional approval of the Formosa Resolution . The Formosa Resolution was a bill enacted by the U.S. Congress on January 29 , 1955 that established an American commitment to defend Formosa ( now called Taiwan ) . As a matter of American foreign policy , President Dwight D. Eisenhower promised to protect `` territories in the West Pacific under the jurisdiction of the Republic of China '' ( i.e. Taiwan and Penghu ) against invasion by the People 's Republic of China ( PRC ) .