Topic summary
American Institute in Taiwan
25°4′46.82″N121°35′57.08″E / 25.0796722°N 121.5991889°E
The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT; Chinese: 美國在å°å”會; pinyin: MÄ›iguó Zà i Tái Xiéhuì) is the informal mission of the United States of America in Taiwan. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of the federal government of the United States in Taiwan with Congressional oversight. The American Institute in Taiwan was officially created as a U.S. government-sponsored nonprofit, private corporation established under the auspices of the U.S. government to serve its interests in Taiwan.
Primarily staffed by employees of the United States Department of State and local workers, the American Institute in Taiwan provides consular services normally offered by United States diplomatic missions, with the Great Seal of the United States hung at the main office in Taipei. The establishment of diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1979 required the United States to develop its own "One China policy" and subsequently to terminate official diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan). The American Institute now serves to assist and protect U.S. interests in Taiwan in a quasiofficial manner, and also processes U.S. visas and provides consular services to U.S. expatriates. Following the swift passage of the 2018 Taiwan Travel Act by the United States, it now serves as a high-level representative bureau on behalf of United States in Taiwan. It receives full protection from the United States Marine Corps as do U.S. embassies.