The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) serves as the informal US embassy in Taipei. The facility will receive a security detail similar to those assigned to official US diplomatic facilities around the world.

Beijing, which views the island nation of Taiwan as a renegade province, has previously stated that such a move would be viewed as "severe subversion" and a "U.S. invasion of China."

In late June, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang urged the US to "exercise caution," and said that a precondition for ongoing US-China relations is abiding by the "one China" pledge and refraining from official exchanges or military contact.