The Taiwan Relations Act is a piece of legislation passed by both houses of the US Congress in April 1979 with bipartisan support. It signalled the retention of unofficial US-Taiwan diplomatic ties in the face of President Jimmy Carter switching the US's recognition of China, and mandated the United States supply Taiwan with sufficient defensive weaponry as to be able to fend off an invasion.
The act leaves out these protection measures for the Kinmen and Matsu Islands.
