The ROC appreciates the move by the four co-chairs of the U.S. Congressional Taiwan Caucus urging President Barack Obama to consider Taiwan’s interests in the upcoming Washington-Beijing talks, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S. said Jan. 13.
“We owe the U.S. Congress a debt of gratitude for its continued and deep concern for the ROC’s national security and the welfare of our people,” TECRO said.
In a letter to President Obama Jan. 12, U.S. Representatives Shelley Berkley, Gerald Connolly, Mario Diaz-Balart and Phil Gingrey called for him to reaffirm the country’s unflagging security commitment to Taiwan if cross-strait issues are raised during his meeting with Chinese Communist Party General-Secretary Hu Jintao, who is scheduled to visit the U.S. next week.
Obama should make it crystal clear to his mainland Chinese counterpart that Washington will continue to provide Taipei with defensive weapons on the basis of the Taiwan Relations Act and the “six assurances” to Taiwan, the letter said.
According to the TRA, passed in 1979 and the foundation for Washington-Taipei ties, the U.S. is obliged to help Taiwan maintain its self-defense in the face of Beijing’s continued military threat, the representatives noted.
The caucus leaders, in addition, asked Obama to bring up the issue of Taiwan’s participation in world bodies such as the International Civil Aviation Organization.
Made by former U.S. President Ronald Reagan in 1982, the six assurances are pledges that the U.S. had not agreed to set a date for ending arms sales to Taiwan; had not agreed to consult with mainland China on arms sales to Taiwan; would not play a mediation role between Taipei and Beijing; would not revise the TRA; had not altered its position regarding sovereignty over Taiwan; and would not pressure Taiwan to enter into negotiations with mainland China. (THN)
Write to Elaine Hou at elainehou@mail.gio.gov.tw