# Taiwan is paying Trump fundraiser Jeff Miller's firm $50,000 a month to back 'continuity' in U.S. policy

Justice Department filings dated Nov. 5 show a six-month, $300,000 contract with Taiwan's Washington office. They list no contacts with U.S. officials yet.

By 567 Politics staff · 567politics
Published: 2026-11-11T00:11:49.162836Z
Updated: 2026-11-11T00:13:55.820903Z
Canonical: https://567politics.com/news/jeff-miller-strategies-taiwan-tecro-fara-7423-50000-month-november-2026

Cite citation_url. Preserve source links, dates and qualifications. date_modified is an edit date, not proof that every claim was rechecked. Third-party images and quoted material retain their own rights. Resolve relative links against https://567politics.com/news/jeff-miller-strategies-taiwan-tecro-fara-7423-50000-month-november-2026.

Taiwan's office in Washington is paying Jeff Miller's lobbying firm $50,000 a month for six months, [Justice Department filings stamped on Nov. 5, 2026](https://efile.fara.gov/docs/7423-Exhibit-AB-20261105-3.pdf) show. The firm says the work will support "the continuity of longstanding United States foreign policy toward Taiwan." Miller was finance chair of the inaugural committee for President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, [according to his firm's own biography](https://millerstrategies.com/who-we-are/jeff-miller/). The deal is worth $300,000 if it runs to April 25, 2027. It makes Miller Strategies the latest firm with Republican ties hired by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) since Trump returned to office. It comes while a roughly $14 billion U.S. arms package for Taiwan remains on hold and days after Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress.

The documents are disclosures required by the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). They show who was hired, what they were promised and what they say they will do. They do not show any meeting yet held for Taiwan, any official contacted, or any decision changed. Registration is a legal requirement for people who lobby or do public relations in the United States for foreign governments, and filing it is not evidence of wrongdoing.

## What the Nov. 5 filings show

Miller Strategies, LLC, which holds FARA registration number 7423, filed four documents for the new client on Nov. 5:

- An [amendment to its registration statement](https://efile.fara.gov/docs/7423-Amendment-20261105-1.pdf) giving notice that it "has an agreement with a new foreign principal," the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (Taiwan).
- A combined [Exhibit A and Exhibit B](https://efile.fara.gov/docs/7423-Exhibit-AB-20261105-3.pdf), which identify the client and attach the contract.
- [A short-form registration for Jeffrey Miller](https://efile.fara.gov/docs/7423-Short-Form-20261105-1.pdf) and [another for George Nicholas Caram IV](https://efile.fara.gov/docs/7423-Short-Form-20261105-2.pdf), the two people at the firm who will work on the account.

Exhibit A checks the box for "Government of a foreign country." It names the branch as the "Representative office of Taiwan." The official the firm deals with is Andrea Yi-Shan Yang, TECRO's deputy representative. The contract is a two-page letter to Yang, dated Oct. 26, 2026. It says the firm "has agreed to provide consulting and lobbying services" to TECRO "for the goal of strengthening U.S.-Taiwan relations." The work includes "communication with contacts related to administrative and legislative matters."

The money terms are short. "TECRO shall pay Miller Strategies, LLC a monthly retainer fee of $50,000, which will be invoiced and is payable monthly," the letter says. The term begins Oct. 26, 2026, and ends April 25, 2027, unless both sides agree in writing to extend it. Miller signed as chief executive officer; Yang countersigned for TECRO. Disputes go to binding arbitration in Texas under Texas law.

In the Exhibit B questionnaire, the firm answered "yes" when asked whether its work will include "political activities," a FARA term. It covers any effort to influence U.S. officials or the public on policy toward a foreign country. Its description of the plan is a single sentence, repeated in three places on the form. Miller Strategies "will provide strategic counsel and government relations services on issues of interest to the foreign principal before the USG in support of the continuity of longstanding United States foreign policy toward Taiwan."

The firm also reported receiving money before the registration was filed. Under the question about income in the 60 days before registration, it lists a single $50,000 payment from TECRO dated Nov. 3, 2026. It reported no spending on TECRO's behalf in that period. It also answered "no" when asked whether it had done any registrable work for TECRO before the date of registration.

One clause names Beijing. The letter says Miller Strategies "will not represent the government of the People's Republic of China" during the deal. It must "promptly notify TECRO" if it decides to work for the PRC government, "including specifically Hong Kong and Macau." The same terms appear in other TECRO contracts, such as [Forward Global's 2025 deal](https://efile.fara.gov/docs/7598-Exhibit-AB-20250526-1.pdf) and [Montfort Advisory's 2025 deal](https://efile.fara.gov/docs/7426-Exhibit-AB-20250519-5.pdf). So it looks like a standard TECRO term, not one written for this firm.

## Who is doing the work

[Jeff Miller's biography on his firm's website](https://millerstrategies.com/who-we-are/jeff-miller/) quotes The New York Times calling him "one of Washington's most prominent Republican lobbyists." It says he "most recently served as Finance Chair of the 60th Presidential Inaugural Committee" for [Trump](/politicians/donald-trump) and Vance. He was also finance chair of the 2020 Republican National Convention. He advised then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and ran Rick Perry's presidential campaign. The same page says Trump named him chair of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council in March 2026. [ABC News reported in April 2025](https://abcnews.com/US/trump-aligned-lobbyists-flourish-companies-flock-gain-administrations/story?id=121098657) that Miller Strategies took in nearly $9 million in the first three months of that year. It had signed at least 55 new clients since Trump's 2024 win, ABC said, citing lobbying filings.

Caram was born in 1991, his short form says. He lists his job as "Lobbyist" and his title as "Officer, Principal." The trade outlet [O'Dwyer's describes him](https://www.odwyerpr.com/story/public/25593/2026-11-10/taiwan-tries-trump-tied-miller-strategies.html) as a former McCarthy aide and former White House National Security Council staffer. Both short forms list the same work: "Consulting and lobbying services before the US Executive and Legislative branches of government." Both men will work part time and are paid by salary.

Jeff Miller is not Jason Miller, whose firm SHW Partners [reported $150,000 a month from India](/news/jason-miller-shw-partners-india-fara-150000-eight-calls-november-2026) in filings 567 Politics reviewed earlier this month. The two run separate firms.

## Taiwan has hired a run of Trump-connected firms

The Miller contract fits a pattern visible in TECRO's own FARA record. Since May 2025, the office has signed at least eight Washington government-relations contracts, according to the Exhibit B documents filed with the Justice Department. Several went to firms whose principals have close ties to Trump.

- [Ballard Partners](https://efile.fara.gov/docs/7070-Exhibit-AB-20250517-14.pdf), led by Trump fundraiser Brian Ballard according to [ABC News](https://abcnews.com/US/trump-aligned-lobbyists-flourish-companies-flock-gain-administrations/story?id=121098657), signed on May 13, 2025, at $60,000 a month for six months. The FARA foreign-principal list records that representation as terminated on Nov. 12, 2025.
- [Checkmate Government Relations](https://efile.fara.gov/docs/7534-Exhibit-AB-20260511-2.pdf), whose founder Ches McDowell has close ties to Donald Trump Jr. according to [Responsible Statecraft](https://responsiblestatecraft.org/taiwan-trump/), signed a $50,000-a-month agreement that began Feb. 4, 2026. It did not file it with the Justice Department until May 11, 2026. Its exhibit reports three $50,000 retainer payments received in February, March and April. [Bloomberg Government reported](https://news.bgov.com/bloomberg-government-news/taiwan-taps-trump-linked-lobby-firm-in-time-for-us-china-summit) that the filing became public in the week Trump traveled to China for a summit with Xi Jinping.
- [Javelin Advisors](https://efile.fara.gov/docs/7705-Exhibit-AB-20260323-1.pdf), whose registration for TECRO was signed by Keith Schiller and George Sorial, signed a contract dated March 10, 2026, at $50,000 a month for six months. The [FARA database lists that representation as terminated](https://efile.fara.gov/api/v1/ForeignPrincipals/json/Terminated/7705) on Sept. 25, 2026. [Javelin's website](https://www.javelinadvisorsllc.com/?page_id=143) says Schiller "served as Director of Oval Office Operations and Deputy Assistant to the President." Javelin later registered separately to arrange [U.S.-Kazakhstan extradition talks, as 567 Politics reported](/news/keith-schiller-javelin-advisors-kazakhstan-extradition-fara-7791-november-2026).
- Firms without a prominent Trump connection were hired at lower rates in the same period. [Cornerstone Government Affairs](https://efile.fara.gov/docs/6401-Exhibit-AB-20260225-62.pdf) gets $20,000 a month from Feb. 15, 2026, [extended through Feb. 14, 2027](https://efile.fara.gov/docs/6401-Exhibit-AB-20260812-1.pdf). [Forward Global](https://efile.fara.gov/docs/7707-Exhibit-AB-20260327-1.pdf) gets $20,000 a month from March 17, 2026, after an [earlier $50,000-a-month contract](https://efile.fara.gov/docs/7598-Exhibit-AB-20250526-1.pdf) that began May 19, 2025. [Montfort Advisory](https://efile.fara.gov/docs/7426-Exhibit-AB-20250519-5.pdf) was hired at $18,000 a month for 12 months from May 8, 2025.

```chart
type: bar
title: Monthly retainers in TECRO lobbying contracts filed since May 2025
source: [Miller Strategies Exhibit B, Nov. 5, 2026](https://efile.fara.gov/docs/7423-Exhibit-AB-20261105-3.pdf), [Ballard Partners Exhibit B, May 17, 2025](https://efile.fara.gov/docs/7070-Exhibit-AB-20250517-14.pdf), [Checkmate Exhibit B, May 11, 2026](https://efile.fara.gov/docs/7534-Exhibit-AB-20260511-2.pdf), [Javelin Exhibit B, Mar. 23, 2026](https://efile.fara.gov/docs/7705-Exhibit-AB-20260323-1.pdf), [Forward Global Exhibit B, May 26, 2025](https://efile.fara.gov/docs/7598-Exhibit-AB-20250526-1.pdf), [Forward Global Exhibit B, Mar. 27, 2026](https://efile.fara.gov/docs/7707-Exhibit-AB-20260327-1.pdf), [Cornerstone Exhibit B, Feb. 25, 2026](https://efile.fara.gov/docs/6401-Exhibit-AB-20260225-62.pdf), [Montfort Exhibit B, May 19, 2025](https://efile.fara.gov/docs/7426-Exhibit-AB-20250519-5.pdf)
note: U.S. dollars per month as written in each contract; contract start date in parentheses. Excludes expenses and older TECRO contracts still active.
prefix: $
---
Contract | Monthly fee
Ballard Partners (May 2025) | 60,000
Forward Global (May 2025) | 50,000
Checkmate (Feb 2026) | 50,000
Javelin Advisors (Mar 2026) | 50,000
Miller Strategies (Oct 2026) | 50,000
Cornerstone (Feb 2026) | 20,000
Forward Global (Mar 2026) | 20,000
Montfort Advisory (May 2025) | 18,000
```

The chart shows contract terms, not total spending. Some agreements ended early, some were extended, and TECRO also keeps older registrants on file. They include [Gephardt Group](https://efile.fara.gov/docs/5874-Exhibit-AB-20250214-34.pdf), which had represented the office since 2013 before a termination recorded on Jan. 1, 2026, according to the [Justice Department's bulk foreign-principal file](https://efile.fara.gov/bulk/zip/FARA_All_ForeignPrincipals.csv.zip). A full count of what Taiwan spends on Washington representation would require every registrant's semiannual supplemental statements, which this article did not total.

```diagram
type: timeline
title: TECRO's Washington hires and the U.S.-Taiwan backdrop, 2025-2026
source: [FARA filings, Justice Department](https://efile.fara.gov/bulk/zip/FARA_All_RegistrantDocs.csv.zip), [CNA/Reuters](https://www.channelnewsasia.com/east-asia/taiwan-continued-arms-support-united-states-midterms-6526126)
---
2025-05-13: Ballard Partners contract signed at $60,000 a month
2025-11-12: Ballard's TECRO representation recorded as terminated
2026-02-04: Checkmate Government Relations term begins at $50,000 a month
2026-03-10: Javelin Advisors contract dated, $50,000 a month
2026-05: Trump meets Xi; later calls the stalled Taiwan arms package a bargaining chip
2026-09-25: Javelin's TECRO representation recorded as terminated
2026-10-26: Miller Strategies engagement letter dated
2026-11-03: TECRO pays Miller Strategies $50,000; Democrats win both chambers in U.S. midterms
2026-11-05: Miller Strategies files the TECRO registration with the Justice Department
```

## Why Taipei says it hires firms, and why critics object

Taiwan's government has defended the practice in general terms. In August 2025, a former U.S. official criticized the Ballard contract. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hsiao Kuang-wei then spoke to [Taiwan's Central News Agency](https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aipl/202508050133.aspx). In 567 Politics' translation from Chinese, he said the office works with Washington firms "based on professional assessment and practical needs." He said the practice has run "through successive administrations." The office "carefully selects" firms and reviews them often, he said, and such deals are common among embassies and companies. That statement predates the Miller contract; 567 Politics found no statement from Taiwan's Foreign Ministry or TECRO about Miller Strategies specifically as of Nov. 10.

Critics come from different directions. In Taiwan, opposition [Kuomintang](/parties/taiwan/kuomintang) legislator Hsu Yu-chen questioned a separate lobbying contract by Taiwan's National Security Bureau in August 2026. "Legality is only the minimum standard; effectiveness is the standard the legislature should examine," she said, according to [Newtalk](https://newtalk.tw/news/view/2026-08-31/1056900) (567 Politics translation). She asked what the US$325,000 had bought beyond meetings and photos. The Bureau replied, in the same report and in translation, that lawful consulting and lobbying "has become international practice among democracies" and that its contracts were registered as local law requires. In June, the Taiwanese outlet [Eat News reviewed Checkmate's FARA filings](https://eatnews.net/article/20260615-1). It asked whether the money bought policy gains or just paid for introductions to officials who already knew Taiwan's issues.

In the United States, the main criticism comes from writers who favor restraint abroad. Joseph Solis-Mullen wrote in the Quincy Institute's [Responsible Statecraft](https://responsiblestatecraft.org/taiwan-trump/) in June. He said TECRO runs "a sophisticated influence network" of lobbyists, consultants and think tanks. Its goal, he wrote, is to keep elite support for arms sales and "an increasingly expansive American commitment to Taiwan's security." He also wrote that "there is nothing unusual about a foreign government attempting to persuade American policymakers." Taiwan spends less than Saudi Arabia, the UAE or pro-Israel groups, he added. He called the Checkmate hire "a rational effort to secure access and influence at a critical moment."

Analysts who favor resuming arms sales focus on the policy itself. Bonnie Glaser and Noah Munk of the [German Marshall Fund](https://www.gmfus.org/news/holdup-us-arms-taiwan) wrote on Nov. 9 that the arms hold lets Beijing think it has "a say in the timing of US arms sales, if not a veto over them." They urged the White House to notify Congress of a first batch.

## The policy Miller is hired to defend

"Continuity" in the filing has a specific context. The U.S. approved about $11 billion in arms for Taiwan in December 2025, but a second package worth about $14 billion has stalled, [Reuters reported via CNA](https://www.channelnewsasia.com/east-asia/taiwan-continued-arms-support-united-states-midterms-6526126). After meeting Xi in May, Trump called the package a good "bargaining chip" that he was holding "in abeyance," according to the same report. The German Marshall Fund analysis says Congress informally cleared that package in January but the White House has not formally notified it.

The administration's case for the pause, as the [German Marshall Fund summarized it](https://www.gmfus.org/news/holdup-us-arms-taiwan), rests on three points. Trump has approved more arms sales to Taiwan by value than any prior president, U.S. production capacity is stretched by other wars, and holding the package protects a trade truce with Beijing. The authors wrote that "none of these arguments is baseless" before concluding that the delay carries larger costs. Administration officials say U.S. policy toward Taiwan is unchanged, the analysis adds.

The timing also changed on the U.S. side. Democrats won both chambers on Nov. 3, as [567 Politics reported in its roundup of foreign reactions](/news/world-reactions-democrats-win-midterms-sanchez-ramaphosa-iran-russia-japan-congress-powers-november-2026). Taiwan's defense minister, Wellington Koo, said on Nov. 5 that the U.S. Congress "has always been non-partisan" and would keep supporting Taiwan's defense capabilities, [according to CNA](https://www.channelnewsasia.com/east-asia/taiwan-continued-arms-support-united-states-midterms-6526126). Miller's network is strongest among Republicans and in the executive branch, and his contract runs past the date the new Democratic majorities take office in January. Taiwan also faces diplomatic friction elsewhere this month: Beijing's invitation to the APEC leaders' meeting in Shenzhen prompted a [formal protest from Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung](/news/taiwan-apec-shenzhen-invitation-protest-lin-chia-lung-november-2026).

Inside Taiwan, the spending fight runs along party lines. The Kuomintang and the Taiwan People's Party control the legislature, the German Marshall Fund notes. In May it passed a special defense budget of $24.8 billion. That is nearly 40% less than President Lai Ching-te sought for 2026 to 2033. The 567 Politics party spectrum below places the governing [Democratic Progressive Party](/parties/taiwan/democratic-progressive-party), the Kuomintang and other parties using dated editorial estimates, not measured scores. It does not measure their positions on lobbying or on the defense budget specifically.

https://567politics.com/embed/political-spectrum?country=taiwan

## Miller's political giving, as the forms require

FARA short forms ask each new agent to list political contributions made in the 60 days before the obligation to register through the registration date. Miller's appendix lists 23 contributions dated Aug. 31 to Nov. 4, 2026, totaling $256,500 by 567 Politics' count. Two account for most of it: $150,000 to the Republican National Committee on Sept. 4 and $61,500 to Maintain the Majority on Sept. 18. The other 21 range from $1,000 to $5,000 and went to Republican House and Senate campaign committees. Caram's appendix lists five contributions from Sept. 8 to Oct. 21 totaling $16,500, including $5,000 to Mr. Smith PAC.

| Donor | Recipient | Date | Amount |
|---|---|---|---:|
| Jeffrey Miller | Republican National Committee | Sept. 4, 2026 | $150,000 |
| Jeffrey Miller | Maintain the Majority | Sept. 18, 2026 | $61,500 |
| Jeffrey Miller | Mayes Middleton Campaign | Oct. 5, 2026 | $5,000 |
| George Nicholas Caram IV | Mr. Smith PAC | Sept. 8, 2026 | $5,000 |

Both men gave to [Rep. Virginia Foxx](/politicians/virginia-foxx) of North Carolina: Miller $3,500 on Oct. 19 and Caram $1,000 on Oct. 21, according to their appendices. Nothing in the filings links any contribution to Taiwan, and the forms do not say whether Foxx or any other recipient has been or will be contacted on TECRO's behalf. The 567 Politics FEC snapshot for Foxx's 2026 campaign, retrieved Nov. 8 from her [FEC candidate record](https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/H4NC05146/?cycle=2026), covers receipts from political committees only. It excludes individual contributions, so it does not include either gift. Contributions disclosed on FARA forms are personal political giving reported because the law asks for it. They are not payments from Taiwan.

## The firm's record with its other foreign clients

Miller Strategies' earlier semiannual reports show how it has described work for its two other foreign clients, the Embassy of Japan and Emirates Global Aluminium, a company based in the United Arab Emirates. The [Justice Department's current list](https://efile.fara.gov/api/v1/ForeignPrincipals/json/Active/7423) shows those two and TECRO as the firm's active foreign principals.

```chart
type: column
title: Foreign-client receipts reported by Miller Strategies, by FARA period
source: [Supplemental statement, period ending Dec. 31, 2025](https://efile.fara.gov/docs/7423-Supplemental-Statement-20260130-3.pdf), [Supplemental statement, period ending June 30, 2026](https://efile.fara.gov/docs/7423-Supplemental-Statement-20260729-4.pdf), [TECRO Exhibit B, Nov. 5, 2026](https://efile.fara.gov/docs/7423-Exhibit-AB-20261105-3.pdf)
note: U.S. dollars. The Nov. 2026 bar is a single pre-registration TECRO payment, not a full six-month period; the July-Dec. 2026 supplemental is not yet due. Blank means none reported for that client in the period.
prefix: $
stacked: yes
---
Period | Embassy of Japan | Emirates Global Aluminium | TECRO
Jul-Dec 2025 | 125,000 | - | -
Jan-Jun 2026 | 125,000 | 375,000 | -
To Nov 5, 2026 | - | - | 50,000
```

For Japan, the firm reported two $62,500 retainer payments in each of the two most recent periods and "No Activities" in the first half of 2026. For Emirates Global Aluminium, it reported three $125,000 retainers from February to April 2026. It listed 23 contacts in that half-year. They include a meeting and two phone calls with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. The stated aim was "coordinating and advocating for meetings with Mubadala personnel regarding infrastructure projects." Its report for late 2025 listed 10 in-person contacts on "trade and tariff mitigation issues." They included National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett and five members of Congress. Those records show the firm has detailed contacts with senior officials when it reports them. The Taiwan account will not produce a comparable report until the supplemental statement covering the second half of 2026 is filed.

## What the filings do not show

The Nov. 5 documents describe a purpose, not a record. They do not name any official, member of Congress, bill, arms sale or decision that Miller Strategies plans to target for Taiwan. They do not show any contact made so far; the firm said it had done no registrable work for TECRO before registering. They do not explain why TECRO chose Miller Strategies, whether the hire replaces Javelin's terminated engagement, or whether the contract will be renewed when it ends in April. They do not link any of Miller's or Caram's political contributions to Taiwan.

The filings also leave open how much Taiwan now spends in total. TECRO had at least five active Washington lobbying or consulting registrations in the Justice Department's bulk file as of Nov. 10, and older contracts on file use different fee terms. The figures in this article are contract terms and reported receipts, not a full accounting.

## Responses

567 Politics found no public statement from Miller Strategies, Jeff Miller or George Caram about the TECRO contract as of Nov. 10. It found none from TECRO or Taiwan's Foreign Ministry about this specific hire. The Foreign Ministry's general view, from August 2025, is that such hires follow "professional assessment and practical needs." The firm's next semiannual FARA report, due after the period ending Dec. 31, 2026, should list any meetings, calls or emails it has made for Taiwan.

FARA records have shaped several recent 567 Politics reports on foreign-government work by people close to the president, including [Brad Parscale's firm, which reported $40.5 million for Israel's U.S. media campaign](/news/brad-parscale-clock-tower-israel-40-million-fara-patronis). As in those cases, the Miller filing is a disclosure the law requires; whether the arrangement shapes U.S. policy toward Taiwan is a separate question the documents cannot answer.