With the world’s attention focused a few thousand miles southwest, where President Donald Trump was shaking hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at a historic summit in Singapore, diplomats and businesspeople gathered in Taiwan’s capital to mark another kind of milestone.

The U.S. unveiled a new representative office in Taipei Tuesday, establishing a de facto embassy in the self-ruled island amid its escalating tensions with China. Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen attended the opening ceremony, where she reaffirmed her government’s commitment to its “vital relationship” with the U.S., Reuters reports.

The American Institute in Taiwan, built over nine years at a cost of about $250 million, is bankrolled by the U.S. government and staffed by diplomats, effectively making the complex an embassy all but in name. The U.S. severed official diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1979 to uphold Beijing’s “One China” policy, which maintains that the breakaway territory is part of the People’s Republic and can be reunified by force, if necessary.

But the U.S. still enjoys a “robust unofficial relationship” with the island nation of 23 million people, according to the State Department. The Republic of China, as Taiwan is officially known, is also a major purchaser of American-made military hardware and is among the top 10 U.S. trade partners with $65.3 billion in total two way trade during 2016.

Read more: The U.S. Trade War with China Has Reached a Dangerous New Phase

But U.S.-Sino relations have soured in recent months among China’s militarization of the South China Sea and ongoing trade disputes between the world’s two leading economic powers. Further complicating matters, Trump broke diplomatic protocol after winning the 2016 presidential election by accepting a congratulatory telephone call from Tsai Ing-wen. In February, Trump signed into law the Taiwan Travel Act, which allows top U.S. officials to visit the island.

Tensions between Beijing and Taipei are also on the rise; over the last few months, China has reprimanded airlines and other businesses for referring to Taiwan as a nation and pressuring countries around the world to cut diplomatic ties.</s>TAIPEI (Reuters) - The United States unveiled a new $256 million representative office in Taiwan’s capital on Tuesday, a de facto embassy that underscores Washington’s strategic ties with the democratic, self-ruled island as it faces escalating tensions with China.

Washington cut diplomatic ties with Taipei in 1979 but remains the island’s strongest ally and sole foreign arms supplier. It opened the American Institute of Taiwan (AIT) to conduct relations between the two sides after severing ties.

In comments certain to rile Beijing, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said the new complex was a reaffirmation of both sides commitment to a “vital relationship”.

“The friendship between Taiwan and the U.S. has never been more promising. The great story of Taiwan-U.S. relations remains to be filled with the efforts of those that will one day occupy this building,” Tsai said.

So long as both sides stood together, nothing could come between them, she added.

Related Coverage China complains to U.S. about new de facto embassy in Taiwan

The new complex, a major upgrade from the low-key military building the AIT had used for decades, will serve as the representative office later this summer, said AIT Director Kin Moy.

Marie Royce, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, said at a ceremony to mark the unveiling that the complex was a symbol of the strength and vibrancy of the U.S.-Taiwan partnership.

“We have faced many trials along this journey, but we have risen to the challenge at every turn, knowing that our shared commitment to democracy would see us through,” said Royce, the highest-ranking State Department official to visit Taiwan since 2015.

In Beijing, China’s Foreign Ministry said they had lodged “stern representations” with Washington about the new building and the visit of the senior U.S. diplomat.

“We urge the United States to scrupulously abide by its promises to China over the Taiwan issue, correct their wrong actions, and avoid damaging China-US relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a daily news briefing.

The new American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) is seen in Taipei, Taiwan June 2, 2018. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

The sprawling new site occupies 6.5 hectares, including Chinese gardens, in Taipei’s Neihu district. AIT’s Taipei office has nearly 500 American and local employees, while its Kaohsiung branch has more than 30 staff.

The ceremony was attended by high-ranking Taiwan officials and senior business executives, including Morris Chang, the former chairman of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC), the world’s biggest contract chip maker.

China claims self-ruled Taiwan under its “one China” policy and Beijing has never renounced the use of force to bring what it sees as a wayward province under its control.

China’s hostility towards Taiwan has grown since President Tsai was elected in 2016. Beijing suspects Tsai wants to push for formal independence, which would cross a red line for Communist Party leaders in Beijing.

The Global Times, a widely-read Chinese state-run newspaper, said China should warn Taiwan and the United States against any provocation.

“The mainland must continue to build up its deterrence against Taiwanese authorities, making them know that the U.S. cannot be their savior,” it said in an editorial on the opening of the new office.

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Taiwan recently lost two diplomatic allies after they switched ties to China, while some international companies have changed their websites to show the island’s designation as being part of China.

China has also stepped up military drills, sending bombers and jet fighters on exercises near the island that Taipei has denounced as intimidation.

Taiwan has lobbied Washington to sell it more advanced equipment, including new fighter jets, to bolster its defenses.</s>The United States unveiled a new $256 million representative office in Taiwan's capital on Tuesday, a de facto embassy that underscores Washington's strategic ties with the self-ruled island as it faces escalating tensions with China.

Washington cut diplomatic ties with Taipei in 1979 but remains the island's strongest ally and sole foreign arms supplier. It opened the American Institute of Taiwan (AIT) to conduct relations between the two sides after severing ties.

The recently completed American Institute in Taiwan office in a suburb of the capital Taipei will house U.S. representatives and serves American interests in the absence of formal diplomatic ties. AIT Director Kin W. Moy — the U.S. ambassador in all but name — Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen and a senior State Department official from Washington, attended Tuesday's ceremony, which Beijing slammed as harmful to U.S.-China ties.

China's Foreign Ministry said yesterday it had lodged stern representations with the United States about the unveiling of the new de facto U.S. embassy in self-ruled Taiwan. "We urge the U.S. to honor its words on the Taiwan issue, and redress its wrongdoing so as to avoid doing harm to China-US ties and peace and stability in cross-strait relations," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said as reported by AP.

Taiwan's relations with the United States have grown closer amid Washington's own struggles with Beijing. Trump upended decades of diplomatic protocol by accepting a congratulatory phone call from Tsai shortly after his 2016 election. In March, he signed the Taiwan Travel Act that encourages high-level visits between the two sides. A month later, the Department of Defense agreed to give American contractors marketing licenses for diesel-electric submarine technology sought by Taiwan's armed forces. And last month, the White House accused China of "Orwellian nonsense" for demanding that international airlines refer to Taiwan as a part of China on their websites.</s>The United States on Tuesday unveiled a new $255 million de facto embassy in Taiwan in what was hailed as a “milestone” in relations, as the self-ruled island comes under increasing pressure from China.

Donald Trump’s administration is moving to strengthen ties with Taiwan in the face of China’s diplomatic moves and military threats.

In March, after Trump approved new rules allowing top US officials to travel to the island, Beijing called on Washington to “correct its mistake”.

But the US sent an assistant secretary of state for the unveiling, a visit less likely to unnerve China which was concerned that higher-level officials may attend.

The US switched diplomatic recognition to China in 1979 but maintains close economic, political and security ties with Taiwan. It manages its relations through the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT).

Marie Royce, assistant secretary of state for educational and cultural affairs, attended the dedication ceremony with Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen.

“AIT’s new home is both a tangible symbol that reflects the strength of our ties and a state-of-the-art facility that will make possible even greater cooperation for years to come,” said Royce, the wife of pro-Taiwan congressman and House foreign affairs committee chairman Ed Royce.

AIT chairman James Moriarty called the new complex a “milestone” in the US-Taiwan relationship and a “testament to the strong US commitment to Taiwan”.

Tsai hailed the complex as a new chapter in the “great story of US-Taiwan relations”.

China and Taiwan have been ruled separately since 1949 but Beijing views the island as a renegade province awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.

It bars Taiwan from membership in the United Nations and many other international organisations and has been luring away the island’s remaining diplomatic allies.

Since Tsai came to power two years ago, Beijing has cut contact with her government because Taipei refuses to acknowledge that Taiwan is part of “one China”.

Beijing officials have described intensified Chinese military drills near the island as a warning against any moves to assert its sovereignty.

While Taiwan’s relationship with the US is essential to its security, it must also guard against provoking China, its biggest military threat but also the dominant market for the island’s export-driven economy.</s>, Taipei, Taiwan, Jun 12 – The United States on Tuesday unveiled a new $255 million de facto embassy in Taiwan in what was hailed as a “milestone” in relations, drawing the ire of China which considers the self-ruled island as part of its territory.

Donald Trump’s administration is moving to strengthen ties with Taiwan in the face of China’s diplomatic moves and military threats.

In March, after Trump approved new rules allowing top US officials to travel to the island, Beijing called on Washington to “correct its mistake”.

But the US sent an assistant secretary of state for the unveiling.

Beijing said it lodged an official diplomatic protest with Washington.

The US switched diplomatic recognition to China in 1979 but maintains close economic, political and security ties with Taiwan. It manages its relations through the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT).

Marie Royce, assistant secretary of state for educational and cultural affairs, attended the dedication ceremony with Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen.

“AIT’s new home is both a tangible symbol that reflects the strength of our ties and a state-of-the-art facility that will make possible even greater cooperation for years to come,” said Royce, the wife of pro-Taiwan congressman and House foreign affairs committee chairman Ed Royce.

AIT chairman James Moriarty called the new complex a “milestone” in the US-Taiwan relationship and a “testament to the strong US commitment to Taiwan”.

Tsai hailed the complex as a new chapter in the “great story of US-Taiwan relations”.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Beijing was “gravely concerned” and launched “solemn representations” with Washington — diplomatic speak for an official protest.

“If any US official attends this activity, whatever their excuse may be, it violates the one China principle,” Geng told a regular press briefing.

“We urge the US to honour its words on the Taiwan issue and redress it’s wrongdoings so as to avoid doing harm to China-US ties and peace and stability in cross-straits relations.”

China and Taiwan have been ruled separately since 1949 but Beijing views the island as a renegade province awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.

It bars Taiwan from membership in the United Nations and many other international organisations and has been luring away the island’s remaining diplomatic allies.

Since Tsai came to power two years ago, Beijing has cut contact with her government because Taipei refuses to acknowledge that Taiwan is part of “one China”.

Beijing officials have described intensified Chinese military drills near the island as a warning against any moves to assert its sovereignty.

While Taiwan’s relationship with the US is essential to its security, it must also guard against provoking China, its biggest military threat but also the dominant market for the island’s export-driven economy.</s>US unveils ‘milestone’ new de facto embassy in Taiwan

TAIPEI: The United States on Tuesday unveiled a new $255 million de facto embassy in Taiwan in what was hailed as a “milestone” in relations, as the self-ruled island comes under increasing pressure from China. Donald Trump’s administration is moving to strengthen ties with Taiwan in the face of China’s diplomatic moves and military threats. In March, after Trump approved new rules allowing top US officials to travel to the island, Beijing called on Washington to “correct its mistake”. But the US sent an assistant secretary of state for the unveiling, a visit less likely to unnerve China which was concerned that higher-level officials may attend. The US switched diplomatic recognition to China in 1979 but maintains close economic, political and security ties with Taiwan. It manages its relations through the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT). Marie Royce, assistant secretary of state for educational and cultural affairs, attended the dedication ceremony with Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen.</s>Taipei, June 12 (IANS) The US on Tuesday inaugurated a new de facto embassy in Taiwan in the absence of official diplomatic ties with the island and amid growing tension with China.

The unveiling of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) was attended by Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-Wen and Premier William Lai, Efe news reported.

“AIT’s new office complex is a testament to the strong US commitment to Taiwan, the close and cooperative ties between our people and the enduring friendship between the US and Taiwan,” AIT Chairman James Moriarty said in a statement posted on the Institute’s website.

“The friendship between Taiwan and the US has never been more promising,” Tsai said.

The AIT building, spread over 6.5 hectares (16 acres) of land, costs around $250 million and will employ more than 500 people and would be protected by US Marines.

US Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Marie Royce and Congressman Gregg Harper also attended the inauguration.

Earlier in the day, Beijing reacted sharply to the inauguration and said the presence of US representatives at the inauguration may pose as an interference in China’s internal affairs.

“We urge the US to redress its wrong doings and avoid damaging China-US ties, peace and stability,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said, adding they have already filed a formal complaint with the US over its relationship with Taiwan.

China argues that Taiwan is part of the People’s Republic and insists countries can only have official diplomatic relations with the mainland and not Taiwan.</s>De Facto U.S. Embassy In Taiwan Dedicates New Complex — Over Chinese Objections

The same day that President Trump and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un held their historic summit in Singapore, several U.S. politicians and officials attended another, far less heralded ceremony just to the north: It was the dedication of a ritzy new complex for the American Institute in Taiwan, or AIT — and China wasn't happy about it.

That's because despite its innocuous name, the organization has long functioned as the de facto U.S. Embassy in Taiwan, the self-ruled island that Beijing considers a renegade Chinese province. Since the U.S. established diplomatic ties with China nearly four decades ago, Washington has acknowledged that claim and cut ties with Taiwan — formally, at least.

Yet the U.S. and Taiwan have maintained a robust informal relationship. And on Tuesday, the representative office that has handled many of those informal affairs got a roughly $256 million upgraded compound in Taiwan's capital, Taipei.

Taiwan's president, Tsai Ing-wen, told the crowd at the dedication ceremony that the building marks "a new chapter in a story that has been decades in the making."

"The friendship between Taiwan and the U.S. has never been more promising," Tsai said. "The great story of Taiwan-U.S. relations remains to be filled with the efforts of those that will one day occupy this building."

Also in attendance were Rep. Gregg Harper and Marie Royce, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for educational and cultural affairs.

"We may be separated by a great ocean," Royce said in prepared remarks, "but our shared convictions, values, and trust form a strong foundation for cooperation across a range of issues."

Chinese authorities made clear they did not share that sense of celebration, however. Geng Shuang, spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, said Tuesday that Beijing has lodged a protest with the U.S. over the ceremony.

"I must point out that the US, by sending officials to Taiwan under whatever pretext, severely violates the one-China principle and three China-US joint communiques, interferes in China's internal affairs and exerts negative impact on China-US relations," Geng said during a news conference.

The "One China" policy Geng references was adopted by the U.S. in 1979. The policy dictates that the U.S. formally recognize only one Chinese government — the Communist apparatus based in Beijing — and officially eschew relations with a Taiwanese government, which has proclaimed itself the "Republic of China."

Yet, as NPR's Rob Schmitz explains, Washington has been creeping steadily closer to Taiwan under the Trump administration. That includes a bill encouraging visits between U.S. and Taiwanese officials at all levels, unanimously passed by Congress and signed into law this year.

And China has taken close notice of these developments.

Beijing has been exerting pressure on businesses and countries to officially consider Taiwan part of China — including successful efforts with certain airlines, Burkina Faso and the Dominican Republic, which cut ties with Taiwan earlier this year. China also has recently pointedly conducted several military drills in the Taiwan strait and around the island.

"We urge the US to honor the commitments it has made to the Chinese side on the Taiwan issue and correct its wrong actions," Geng added Tuesday, "thus avoiding undermining China-US ties and cross-straits peace and stability."

Meanwhile, the AIT is happily plowing ahead with its big move. The organization, which was first established in 1979 after the diplomatic shift, plans to officially relocate to the new facility this fall.

And AIT Director Kin Moy, for one, said Tuesday he eagerly welcomes this "testament to this friendship, to the U.S. commitment to Taiwan, and to our staying power in Taiwan."

"I offer you this," he said, "a tangible symbol that the United States is here to stay."</s>TAIPEI: The United States unveiled a new US$256 million representative office in Taiwan's capital on Tuesday (Jun 12), a de facto embassy that underscores Washington's strategic ties with the democratic, self-ruled island as it faces escalating tensions with China.

Washington cut diplomatic ties with Taipei in 1979 but remains the island's strongest ally and sole foreign arms supplier. It opened the American Institute of Taiwan (AIT) to conduct relations between the two sides after severing ties.

In comments certain to rile Beijing, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said the new complex was a reaffirmation of both sides commitment to a "vital relationship."

"The friendship between Taiwan and the US has never been more promising. The great story of Taiwan-US relations remains to be filled with the efforts of those that will one day occupy this building," Tsai said.

So long as both sides stood together, nothing could come between them, she added.

The new complex, a significant upgrade from the low-key military building the AIT had used for decades, will serve as the representative office later this summer, said AIT Director Kin Moy.

Marie Royce, US Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, said at a ceremony to mark the unveiling that the complex was a symbol of the strength and vibrancy of the US-Taiwan partnership.

"We have faced many trials along this journey, but we have risen to the challenge at every turn, knowing that our shared commitment to democracy would see us through," said Royce, who is the highest-ranking State Department official to visit Taiwan since 2015.

The sprawling new site occupies 6.5 hectares, including Chinese gardens, in Taipei's Neihu district. AIT's Taipei office has nearly 500 American and local employees, while its Kaohsiung branch has more than 30 staff.

The ceremony was attended by scores of high-ranking Taiwan officials as well as senior business executives, including Morris Chang, the former chairman of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC), the world’s biggest contract chip maker.

China claims self-ruled Taiwan under its "one China" policy and Beijing has never renounced the use of force to bring what it sees as a wayward province under its control.

China's hostility towards Taiwan has grown since President Tsai was elected in 2016. Beijing suspects Tsai wants to push for formal independence, which would cross a red line for Communist Party leaders in Beijing.

China's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday it had lodged stern representations with the United States about the unveiling of the new de facto US embassy.

Widely read Chinese state-run newspaper the Global Times said on Tuesday China needed to warn Taiwan and the United States against provocation.

"The mainland must continue to build up its deterrence against Taiwanese authorities, making them know that the US cannot be their saviour," it said in an editorial on the opening of the new office.

Taiwan recently lost two diplomatic allies after they switched ties to China, while some international companies have changed their websites to show the island's designation as being part of China.

China has also stepped up military drills, sending bombers and jet fighters on exercises near the island that Taipei has denounced as intimidation.

Taiwan has lobbied Washington to sell it more advanced equipment, including new fighter jets, to bolster its defences.</s>TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — The U.S. dedicated a new de-facto embassy in Taiwan on Tuesday in what officials described as an indicator of robust ties with the self-governing island democracy that China claims as its own territory.

The recently completed American Institute in Taiwan office in a suburb of the capital Taipei will house U.S. representatives and serves American interests in the absence of formal diplomatic ties.

The U.S. switched diplomatic recognition to Beijing in 1979 but maintains close economic, political and security ties with Taiwan.

"We should all be proud of this milestone, which is a symbol of the close cooperation and enduring friendship between the United States and Taiwan," AIT Director Kin W. Moy, the U.S. ambassador in all but name, said at the dedication ceremony.

Joining Moy was U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Marie Royce, who called the new office "a symbol of the strength and vibrancy of the U.S.-Taiwan partnership in the 21st century."

"Our friendship brings the best out of both our peoples," Royce said.

Among other officials attending the ceremony was Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen, whose independence-leaning administration Beijing has sought to isolate diplomatically and threatens with invasion.

The sides split amid civil war in 1949, and Beijing insists they eventually unify under its rule. Tsai, who leads the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, has refused Beijing's demand that she recognize Taiwan as a part of China, leading to a prolonged freeze in relations that had been gradually warming under her predecessor, Ma Ying-jeou of the pro-unification Nationalist Party.

China bars Taiwan from membership in the United Nations and many other international organizations and has been luring away the island's remaining diplomatic allies, leaving it with just 18. Beijing has cut all contacts with Tsai's government, reduced the number of Chinese tourists visiting the island and upped its military threat with war games and air patrols around the island and by sailing its aircraft carrier through the Taiwan Strait.

Meanwhile, Taiwan's relations with the United States have grown closer amid Washington's own struggles with Beijing.

In March, President Donald Trump signed the Taiwan Travel Act that encourages high-level visits between the two sides. A month later, the Department of Defense agreed to give American contractors marketing licenses for diesel-electric submarine technology sought by Taiwan's armed forces.

And last month, the White House accused China of "Orwellian nonsense" for demanding that international airlines refer to Taiwan as a part of China on their websites.

"Taiwan-U.S. relations appear to be more practical and closer than before, so Taiwanese people will have more expectations," ruling party legislator Lee Chun-yi said. "China's pressure on Taiwan is inciting a backlash from the public here."

Still, the United States has not sold F-35 fighter jets, as requested by Taipei, offered actual submarines or docked a naval vessel in Taiwan despite talk in Washington.

"I think Taiwan-U.S. relations have improved in appearance, not in substance," said Chen I-hsin, an emeritus professor of diplomacy in Taiwan.

Taiwan also risks being sidelined in Washington if Trump feels satisfied that China has addressed its massive trade surplus with the U.S., said retired strategic studies professor Lin Chong-pin.

"It's been said before that Taiwan is being used as a bargaining chip, and so far we cannot rule that out," Lin said.

Washington's decision to "slightly upgrade relations" is mainly due to its disillusionment with China and the ascension of a more hawkish view toward China in the Trump administration, said Denny Roy, a fellow at the East-West Center think tank in Honolulu.

"Hence a few moves to loosen the previous self-limitations by Washington in its relationship with Taiwan," said Roy.
The United States unveils a new 6.5-hectare (16-acre) complex in Taipei for the American Institute in Taiwan, the de facto U.S. embassy.