December 13th, 2025
- USCSSO @GWU
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Overview
This week, we discuss significant developments in U.S.-Taiwan ties and analyze French President Emmanuel Macron's state visit to China.
Diplomacy
Setting Things Strait: New Law Strengthens US-Taiwan Relations
By Contributor Jason Holman
On Dec. 2, US President Donald Trump signed into law the Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act which would strengthen US-Taiwanese relations.
The Taiwanese and US flags in Taipei. (via. CNA)
Assurance Act: On Dec. 2, US President Donald Trump signed into law the Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act. The law requires the US State Department to regularly review U.S.-Taiwan diplomatic interactions and give guidelines on how those interactions should be pursued. The bill was introduced in February 2025, passing through the House of Representatives and Senate with wide bipartisan support. Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung thanked Trump as the Taiwanese government largely welcomed the move from Washington. Beijing has largely opposed the move, with Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian saying China was against any official contact between the US and Taiwan.
Strait Tensions: This act continues previous pro-Taiwan moves made by Trump. During his first term, he lifted restrictions on US-Taiwan official contacts. On Nov. 26, Taiwan announced plans for US arms purchases as Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te seeks to strengthen Taiwan’s defense capabilities. These continued acts of cooperation between Taiwan and the US come at an increasingly tense time. There continue to be tensions between China and Japan over the PM’s comments about a Japanese defense of Taiwan from China. This escalated into a standoff between Japanese Coast Guards and Chinese vessels on Dec. 2.
US Commitments: The decision to pass legislation that places guidelines on interactions between the US and Taiwan is not a light one. The two states have lacked formal diplomatic ties since 1979. As tensions increase in the strait and as some caution against Chinese intervention in Taiwan, the US’s relations in the region will remain important long-term. The decision to enact legislation on Taiwanese interactions comes as polls demonstrate wide bipartisan support in the US for stronger military actions by the US for the defense of Taiwan. This new act will also likely shape ongoing interactions between the US and China over trade talks and will likely influence Trump’s planned meeting with Xi in April.
Diplomacy
Trade, Tariffs, and Pandas: What Macron’s Visit Means for Franco-Chinese Relations
By Contributor Edward Lee
Macron’s State visit to China demonstrates increased autonomy among European states on China policy, diverging from the continent's previous reliance on Washington.
The French tricolor accompanies the Chinese five star over Tiennamen Square (via Associated Press)
A Growing Divergence: Macron's visit to China signals a growing trend in Chinese-European relations, with individual states seeking to distance themselves from the European Union and NATO's increasingly hostile stance towards Beijing. Paris's growing dissatisfaction with the Trump Administration's hardline tariff regimes and the need to develop diplomatic and trade ties that overcome the Sino-American rivalry are the likely reasons for such a visit. Additionally, France's strong ties to Ukraine and the Quai d'Orsay's dissatisfaction with the recent American-led peace plan led Macron to appeal to President Xi to use China's economic leverage to pressure the Kremlin into a more amenable agreement. Macron's visit consisted of discussions on several contentious issues, including Taiwan and Tariffs, as well as the staple activities of Chinese state visits: table tennis and Pandas.
Trade Troubles: With trade imbalances being a sensitive issue between China and France, and by extension, Europe as a whole, Macron and Xi had extensive discussions about the lack of European imports into the Chinese economy. With the imbalance growing by nearly 60% since 2019, Macron warned that the current deficit is unsustainable and threatened to impose tariffs if it is not corrected. This comes on the heels of the recent US-China trade war, which saw Washington threaten a 100% tariff before an agreement was eventually reached. In addition to tariff discussions, the talks saw Xi discuss strengthened cooperation in traditional areas of agreement, such as Nuclear energy and Aviation, as well as the potential for joint ventures in AI, pharmaceuticals, and cryptocurrencies.
International Response: While much of the media coverage of the visit focused on a humorous scene in which Macron broke diplomatic protocol to greet Chinese Students in Chengdu, the policy aspects of the trip did not go unnoticed to geopolitical and economic commentators alike. While many praised the journey as a sign of renewed European trade autonomy, many human rights-focused groups question whether Macron applied enough pressure to Beijing, which they accuse of abusive work conditions and supplying drones used in attacks against Ukrainian civilians. Furthermore, the Elysee's break from European norms in its use of unilateral trade negotiations has also forced other states to consider their own economic priorities, and to what extent to recalibrate their trade. Internally, Chinese media looked extremely favorably upon the visit, portraying Macron as a "rock star"-like figure and painting it as a sign of increased stability and cooperation following tumultuous trade negotiations. Overall, while only time will show the actual outcome of the visit, it serves as a trailblazer for increased collaboration in an increasingly multipolar world.
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