But it seems to me Irvine is in violation of the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979.
The TRA set up diplomatic-ish relations between the US and the Republic of China on Taiwan. Instead of an embassy we have the American Institute in Taiwan, and whenever China drops a missile off Taiwan's coast we're required to audibly click our tongue in their general direction, maybe even firmly wag a finger. Still, we do not formally recognize China's sovereignity over Taiwan. We gave Taipei Six whole Assurances about it.
In addition to supporting the island's defenses, the Act also charges the U.S. “to resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security, or the social or economic system, of the people on Taiwan.”
Recently, the City of Irvine signed a document as part of a sister-city agreement with Shanghai, China. This document is Irvine's pledge not to acknowledge Taiwan's sovereignity, celebrate its national day or grace its shores with Irvine's civic leaders. This has greatly offended Irvine's thousands of Taiwanese residents as well as Taiwanese-American organizations around the state and world.
A halfway decent lawyer could argue that Irvine failed to resist any resort to forms of coercion that jeapordized the social system of Taiwan in the context of Taoyuan, Taiwanese-Americans, and especially Taiwanese-Irvinians.
If this is in fact the case, then according to the text of the TRA George W. himself is obligated to inform Congress:
TRA Section 3.c: The President is directed to inform the Congress promptly of any threat to the security or the social or economic system of the people on Taiwan and any danger to the interests of the United States arising therefrom. The President and the Congress shall determine, in accordance with constitutional processes, appropriate action by the United States in response to any such danger.
In other words, Bush has to tattle on Beth.
