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1 1 (February 19, 2026)

handle is hein.crs/govetgb0001 and id is 1 raw text is: informing the eagis tive debate since 1914 President Reagan's Six Assurances to Taiwan Introduction Under the U.S. one-China policy, the U.S. government has, since 1979, maintained official relations with the People's Republic of China (PRC) and unofficial relations with self-governed Taiwan, over which the PRC claims sovereignty. Until 2020, U.S. Administrations described the U.S. one-China policy as being guided by three U.S.-PRC joint communiqu6s (concluded in 1972, 1978, and 1982) and the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA, P.L. 96-8; 22 U.S.C. §§3301 et seq.). Since 2020, U.S. Administrations have stated that the U.S. one-China policy is guided by the TRA and the joint communiqu6s (in that order), and also by Six Assurances communicated to Taiwan's president in 1982. H toriCA Context In the 1978 U.S.-PRC joint communique, the United States and the PRC agreed to establish diplomatic relations on January 1, 1979. In an accompanying statement, the U.S. government said it would terminate diplomatic relations with the Taiwan-based Republic of China (ROC) on the same date. With some Members portraying the moves as a betrayal of Taiwan, Congress passed the TRA, enacted on April 10, 1979. Among the TRA's provisions is that the United States will make available to Taiwan such defense articles and defense services in such quantity as may be necessary for Taiwan's self-defense. By 1982, continued U.S. arms sales to Taiwan pursuant to the TRA had become a major irritant in the U.S.-PRC relationship. The Ronald Reagan Administration sought to address the issue through negotiation of a third U.S.-PRC joint communiqu6. In the August 17th Communique, named for the day in 1982 on which it was released, the PRC government affirmed a fundamental policy of striving for a peaceful reunification with Taiwan. With such PRC statements in mind, the United States stated that it does not seek to carry out a long-term policy of arms sales to Taiwan, that its arms sales to Taiwan will not exceed, either in qualitative or in quantitative terms, the level of those supplied [since 1979], and that it intends gradually to reduce its sale of arms to Taiwan, leading over a period of time, to a final resolution. Aware of mounting concern in Taiwan over the third communiqu6 negotiations, on July 10, 1982, then-Under Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger instructed James Lilley, director of the unofficial U.S. representative office in Taiwan, the American Institute in Taiwan, to seek a meeting with Taiwan's President, Chiang Ching-kuo. The talking points Eagleburger sent Lilley by cable for the meeting, authorized by President Reagan, included statements detailing what the U.S. government had not agreed to in its negotiations with the PRC. Those Updated February 19, 2026 statements, delivered to President Chiang on July 14, 1982, are now known as the U.S. Six Assurances to Taiwan. Table I. The Official Texts of the Six Assurances CRS has bolded the verb tenses Eagleburger Shultz cable: Holdridge cable: for for Taiwan to testimony before Taiwan's Pres. make public Senate Chiang (71I0/82) (81I71I982) (81I71I982) We have not agreed to set a date certain for ending arms sales to Taiwan. We have not agreed to prior consultation on arms sales [to Taiwan] We have not agreed to any mediation role for the U.S. We have not agreed to revise the Taiwan Relations Act. We have not agreed to take any position regarding sovereignty over Taiwan. The PRC has at no time urged us to put pressure on Taiwan to negotiate with the PRC; however, we can assure you that we will never do so. The U.S. has not agreed to set a date for ending arms sales to Taiwan. The U.S. has not agreed to consult with the PRC on arms sales to Taiwan. The U.S. will not play any mediation role between Taipei and Beijing. The U.S. has not agreed to revise the Taiwan Relations Act. The U.S. has not altered its position regarding sovereignty over Taiwan. The U.S. will not exert pressure on Taiwan to enter into negotiations with the PRC. [W]e did not agree to set a date certain for ending arms sales to Taiwan. [The 1982 joint communique] should not be read to imply that we have agreed to engage in prior consultations with Beijing on arms sales to Taiwan. [W]e see no mediation role for the United States. We have no plans to seek any such revisions [to the TRA]. [T]here has been no change in our longstanding position on the issue of sovereignty over Taiwan. [N]or will we attempt to exert pressure on Taiwan to enter into negotiations with the PRC.