[wsmichaels]

The Taipei Times reported on the discussions at the U.S. Congress on establishing the U.S. Embassy in Taiwan and diplomatic contacts with the Republic of China (Taiwan).

According to the report of such international law firm as Alston & Bird LLP to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Taiwan), Joseph Wu, this lobbying firm acted as a bridge-builder in re-establishment of diplomatic relations between the US and Taiwanese authorities.

As a result of their joint efforts, President Trump signed the Taiwan Travel Act and Marie Royce, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, opened a new representative office of the U.S. State Department on the island - the American Institute in Taiwan.

It is also worth mentioning that the U.S. State Department has taken an extremely risky step as it has been quoted in the newspaper: for the first time since the 1995-1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis, it granted visas to Taiwan's President, Chen Chen-jen, as well as, to Taiwan's Foreign Minister, Joseph Wu, and other personnel from this ministry.