美國在尼克森政府時期即積極地與中國進行關係正常化的交
往，一般相信，若不是尼克森涉入水門案件，兩國的建交應該在尼
克森任內便會完成。1978 年 12 月 15 日，美國總統卡特宣布將於隔
年 1 月 1 日與中國建交，這項宣布雖然不能算是驚天動地的外交舉
動，但是卡特政府毫無預警且刻意對國會隱瞞的動作，令美國內部
產生許多批評和責難之聲。在美國國會議員的強力介入下，『台灣關
係法』於 1979 年 4 月 10 日通過生效，這項法案堪稱是美國最具國
際影響力的國內法，因為它不但定位美國與台灣的未來關係，它也
是美國在西太平洋區域安全維護的重要機制。
本文將回顧美國『台灣關係法』之立法背景與過程，並討論該
法對台灣安全的保障與東亞安全維護的影響，進而闡述『台灣關係
法』對台灣、日本、與美國的安全連結。

Under the lead of President Richard Nixon, the USA undertook to
normalize relation with the PRC. However, this was not achieved within
Nixon’s term of office, probably owing to the Watergate scandal. On 15
December 1978, his successor, President Jimmy Carter announced that he
would establish diplomatic relations with the PRC on 1 January 1979.
While not a complete surprise, this announcement did come as a shock to
Congress and lead to considerable discussion and criticism within the
country. Under the pressure of Congress, the Taiwan Relations Act was
passed on 10 April 1979. This Act is the most internationally-oriented
piece of domestic legislation in the US. It not only determines future
US-Taiwan relations but also sets the role of the US in the area of
security in the western Pacific.
This paper looks at the legislative debates and process by which the
Taiwan Relations Act was passed and at its role in guaranteeing Taiwan’s
and East Asia’s security. On this basis, the discussion proceeds to look
at the impact of the Act on security links between Taiwan, Japan and the
US.