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Draft of Republican party platform supports Taiwan

The US Republican Party is expected to give ringing support to Taiwan, including a pledge to help Taiwan fend off any Chinese military attack, in the party platform to be unveiled at next week’s party convention, a draft showed.

The draft, which was presented to members of the party’s platform committee on Monday, was reprinted in the online version of National Journal, a Washington-based political magazine.

Spokesmen for Republican presidential candidate John McCain and the Republican National Committee would not give details about the platform, saying the document would not be made public until the convention votes on it. The final version was being worked out, they said.

Calling Taiwan a “sound democracy and economic model for mainland China,” the draft reaffirms the Taiwan Relations Act as the basis of US-Taiwan relations and rejects any unilateral moves by either side of the Taiwan Strait to alter the “status quo.”

“All issues regarding the island’s future must be resolved peacefully, through dialog, and be agreeable to [Taiwan’s] people,” it said.

“If China were to violate these principles, the US, in accord with the Taiwan Relations Act, will help Taiwan defend itself,” it said.

“As a loyal friend of America, the democracy of Taiwan has merited our strong support, including the timely sale of defensive arms and full participation in the World Health Organization and other multilateral institutions,” it said.

The draft is consistent with the party’s 2004 platform, which also praised Taiwan’s democracy, committed the US to help defend Taiwan, urged continued arms sales and supported Taiwan’s participation in the WHO and other bodies.

McCain has long been an ardent backer of Taiwan.

In contrast to the Republican document, the Democratic platform approved at this week’s party convention in Denver paid little attention to Taiwan, saying only: “We are committed to a ‘One China’ policy and the Taiwan Relations Act, and will continue to support a peaceful resolution of cross-Straits [sic] issues that is consistent with the wishes and best interests of the people of Taiwan.”

However, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, has gone beyond that, stating that, if elected, his administration would retain a strong commitment to Taiwan and its international presence.
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