TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Former US diplomat Craig Singleton said the recently signed Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act is more than a procedural measure and instead serves as a prompt for officials to examine whether long-standing practices remain in the country’s best interest, per CNA.

“It may seem like a procedure, but it’s actually important,” Singleton said, adding that scholars are watching to see whether the US State Department will ease restrictions governing relations with Taiwan. He added that the White House hopes the move will not disrupt future US-China talks.

Singleton, a senior fellow on China at the Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies who served at the State Department from 2008 to 2019, said the act’s most significant impact is its requirement that the State Department regularly review and explain the rationale behind its guidelines for interactions with Taiwan.

The bipartisan legislation instructs the department to update its guidelines and propose plans to remove existing restrictions. After clearing both chambers of Congress, the bill was signed into law on Wednesday by President Donald Trump.

“It prompts officials to consider whether long-standing practices still serve US interests, rather than simply following convention because we have always done it this way,” said Singleton.

Since the US severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan, the State Department has maintained several “red lines” governing diplomatic, military, and other exchanges. The core intent of the act is to break down these restrictions.

Whether the act ultimately relaxes any rules will depend on internal review processes, Singleton said. However, the legislation creates room for a more systematic consideration of how official engagement can support peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Asked whether Washington is hesitant to adjust its interactions with Taiwan as Trump pushes forward with trade talks with China and prepares for a visit to Beijing next year, Singleton said he is cautious about predicting how trade factors may influence day-to-day operations. What is clear, he said, is that the US continues to advance its security cooperation with Taiwan.

Singleton noted that arms sales to Taiwan remain ongoing, indicating that even amid difficult trade negotiations with Beijing, supporting Taiwan’s security and maintaining robust relations remain US priorities.

Zack Cooper, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, said he does not believe China should have a veto over US policy toward Taiwan. However, he added, “The White House has made it very clear that President Trump’s focus is on ensuring that US-China talks take place as planned in April, November, and possibly December next year.”

Cooper said that unless US-China relations deteriorate, he expects Washington will avoid decisions that could provoke a negative reaction from Beijing, and he doubts the administration will ease restrictions on US-Taiwan engagement next year.

Patrick Cronin, director of Asian and Pacific Security at the Hudson Institute, said in a brief statement that the act gives Trump the authority to strengthen ties with Taiwan if needed, while China will likely work to block any expansion of such engagement.

With the Taiwan Assurances Implementation Act now law, it becomes the first pro-Taiwan bill Trump has signed during his second term.

Representative Ann Wagner, the Republican lawmaker who sponsored the bill, said China has clearly signaled its intent to further expand its influence over Taiwan and the broader Indo-Pacific region. “The US stands with Taiwan and will not allow China to further destabilize the global situation,” she said.