ABSTRACT
The chapter discusses the contested processes leading to the establishment and first closures of US state offices in Taipei in the 1980s and early 1990s, as well as the inter-office cooperation (through the American State Offices Association) and rivalry. It argues that, from Taipei’s perspective, trade offices served to underscore the US’ continued commitment to Taiwan, irrespective of the diplomatic derecognition of the ROC. For US states, trade offices (as well as economic missions to Taiwan) manifested the supremacy of neoliberal economic ideas, which allegedly compelled state governments to engage pro-actively with the wider world in order for US local economies to remain competitive in the global market. The uncertain economic consequences of engagement with Taiwan, however, challenged some state leaders’ beliefs in the promotion of economic interests overseas as necessary and beneficial. As a result, some states began closing their Taipei offices, while others questioned the wisdom of sending trade missions overseas. The chapter includes in-depth discussion of Arizona’s and California’s state offices in Taipei, while noting issues involving offices set up by Hawaii, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Oklahoma, Oregon, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, Texas and Wyoming.
