Greg Abbott Announces New Initiative with Taiwan During Asia Trip

The United States and Taiwan do not have diplomatic relations, but the State Department says they have “a strong informal relationship.”

Texas will open a state office in Taiwan to strengthen trade and cultural ties, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Sunday during an economic development trip to Asia.

“Texas and Taiwan are vital economic partners looking to drive future innovation,” Abbott said in a news release from Taipei, the capital of the self-governing island off the coast of China. “These two initiatives – an economic agreement and a new Texas state office in Taiwan – will strengthen the economic and cultural relationship between Texas and Taiwan.”

The new office in Taiwan will be placed under the supervision of the governor in charge of economic development and tourism.

The Asia trip also included visits to South Korea and Japan. The governor was accompanied by his wife, Cecilia, Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson, Democratic Sen. Carol Alvarado of Houston, and Republican Reps. Angie Chen Button of Richardson, Giovanni Capriglione of Keller and Jacey Jetton of Katy. Button was born in Taipei.

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The United States severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan, formerly known as the Republic of China, in 1979 as part of the agreement that normalized the country’s relations with the People’s Republic of China, which had been isolated after the communist takeover in 1949.

However, according to the US State Department, which describes Taiwan as “a leading democracy and technological power,” the United States and Taiwan “enjoy a strong informal relationship.”

“The United States and Taiwan share similar values, deep commercial and economic ties, and strong people-to-people connections, which form the foundation of our friendship and serve as the impetus for expanding U.S. engagement with Taiwan,” the State Department said on its website.

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Abbott signed what his office called a statement of intent on economic development with Taiwan’s Minister of Economic Affairs, Jyh-Huei Kuo, “to further stimulate investment, expand trade, spur job creation and increase innovation in critical industries between Texas and Taiwan.”

Priorities in the document include collaboration in sectors such as semiconductor manufacturing, electric vehicles and energy resilience.

The United States and Taiwan do not have diplomatic relations, but the State Department says they have “a strong unofficial relationship.”