While these policies have been in effect since 1979, the Tancredo amendment aims at what is believed to be the latest update, issued by the department on Feb. 2, 2002.
In addition to the communications curbs, the four-page guidelines contain strictures on how the US refers to Taiwan. US officials are not allowed to use the terms "Republic of China" or "Republic of China on Taiwan."
They cannot refer to Taiwan as a government or country. The term "Taiwanese" is also taboo. The term "people on Taiwan" is used instead.
"The proper noun and adjective to refer to the island, the entity and its authorities are Taiwan," the document states.
Taiwan's government is called "the Taiwan authorities."
A similar amendment to the foreign affairs spending bill, also introduced by Tancredo, was approved unanimously by the House last year, but failed to make it through the Senate.
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