Bill Overview
Title: Taiwan Representative Office Act
Description: This bill requires the Department of State to seek to enter into negotiations with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) to rename its office in Washington, DC, the Taiwan Representative Office. (The U.S.-Taiwan relationship is unofficial, and TECRO is Taiwan's principal representative office in the United States.)
Sponsors: Rep. Curtis, John R. [R-UT-3]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals in Taiwan
Estimated Size: 230000
- Renaming the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) to the Taiwan Representative Office may impact diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Taiwan.
- Taiwanese nationals may perceive this change as a sign of stronger U.S. support for Taiwan.
- This bill primarily affects representatives and officials directly involved in U.S.-Taiwan relations.
Reasoning
- The policy mainly impacts a niche group of individuals directly involved in Taiwan-US relations and those interested in international diplomacy.
- The anticipated impact among the general American public is minimal, as the policy does not directly affect daily lives or economic conditions.
- A significant portion of the Taiwanese-American population may view the policy positively due to perceived strengthened diplomatic support for Taiwan, potentially improving their wellbeing perceptions.
- Budget constraints suggest that the policy's scope and direct impact are limited, reinforcing that the greatest effects will be on those directly linked to diplomatic endeavors.
Simulated Interviews
Diplomat (Washington, DC)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 1/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The renaming is a step towards stronger US-Taiwan relations.
- While it's mostly symbolic, it's a significant gesture of solidarity.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Business Owner (New York, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think the renaming shows increased US support for Taiwan, which is reassuring.
- It's more about political symbolism than practical impact for me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Software Engineer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm proud of this change, feels like the US recognizes Taiwan a bit more.
- It doesn't change much for my day-to-day, but I like the sentiment.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Professor (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 54 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is an important move in the narrative of US diplomatic support for Taiwan.
- It will mainly matter to those watching international relations closely.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Marketing Manager (Chicago, IL)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think the change in name highlights Taiwan's importance to the US.
- For everyday Americans like me, it doesn't alter much. It's more of a diplomatic move.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Retiree (Houston, TX)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Renaming sounds good but doesn't change the core issues.
- I remain skeptical about the long-term effects.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Journalist (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 27 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's fascinating for the diplomatic story, but it's just a name change.
- Most Americans probably won’t notice.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Public Policy Analyst (Boston, MA)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Symbolic moves like this are common but can have underlying significance.
- I'm curious to see any follow-up actions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
IT Consultant (Seattle, WA)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a positive sign towards Taiwan, could mean better ties.
- This doesn't offset larger issues, but it's a nice gesture.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Lawyer (Dallas, TX)
Age: 36 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a diplomatic gesture, showing support without much risk.
- Not ground-breaking but indicative of US stance.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $150000 (Low: $100000, High: $200000)
Year 2: $150000 (Low: $100000, High: $200000)
Year 3: $150000 (Low: $100000, High: $200000)
Year 5: $150000 (Low: $100000, High: $200000)
Year 10: $150000 (Low: $100000, High: $200000)
Year 100: $150000 (Low: $100000, High: $200000)
Key Considerations
- The act does not significantly alter staffing or other operational costs for TECRO.
- It primarily sends a symbolic diplomatic message which could affect international relations.