President Tsai Ing-wen received a U.S. congressional delegation led by Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson Nov. 21 at the Office of the President in Taipei City, expressing Taiwan’s commitment to consolidating and deepening the strong ties between the two sides.
Tsai thanked Johnson, a member of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, for her staunch support of the nation’s international participation. The Texas congresswoman co-sponsored a bill, HR 1853, directing U.S. President Barack Obama to develop a strategy to assist Taiwan in obtaining observer status in Interpol that was approved unanimously in November 2015 by the U.S. House of Representatives.
The president reaffirmed the nation’s determination to making significant contributions to major global issues. Tsai added that she expects the newly elected U.S. government will continue to uphold its security commitment to Taiwan as well as maintain close economic and cultural interactions in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act and Six Assurances.
Signed into law in 1979 after the U.S. switched recognition from Taipei to Beijing, the TRA authorizes the continuation of substantive relations between the people of the U.S. and the people of Taiwan. In 1982, then U.S. President Ronald Reagan issued the Six Assurances, stipulating the U.S. would not set a date for ending arms sales to Taiwan; revise the TRA; consult with mainland China on arms sales to Taiwan; mediate between Taiwan and mainland China; alter its position on the sovereignty of Taiwan or exert pressure on Taiwan to enter into talks with mainland China; or formally recognize mainland Chinese sovereignty over Taiwan.
Another foreign delegation is also currently visiting Taiwan from the Czech Republic. The group is staying Nov. 21-25 at the invitation of the Legislative Yuan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs so as to gain a better understating of the nation’s development across such areas as trade, economics, culture and technology.
Headed by Jan Bartosek, vice-chairperson of the Czech Republic Chamber of Deputies, the delegation is scheduled to meet with Vice President Chen Chien-jen Nov. 23 to promote parliamentary exchanges and boost business and cultural cooperation. It will also call on Legislative Yuan President Su Jia-chyuan and attend a luncheon hosted by Deputy MOFA Minister Francois Chih-Chung Wu. (KWS-E)
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