US beef imports and US President Barack Obama’s recent trip to China were key points in the discussion yesterday between American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Chairman Raymond Burghardt and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), the DPP said.
Briefing reporters, DPP Director of International Affairs Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) said that during the 70-minute meeting, Tsai told Burghardt the DPP was concerned about the US’ stance on Taiwan as a US-China joint statement released during Obama’s trip had not mentioned the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), the backbone of the Taiwan-US relationship since the two countries severed ties 30 years ago.
The absence of the TRA has worried many Taiwanese who fear the gesture was an indication of deteriorating Taiwan-US ties, Hsiao said, urging Washington to reaffirm its commitment to Taiwan.
The DPP also said the joint statement contradicted the TRA and the “six assurances,” and that the US should make clear that it still adheres to the TRA and that its position on Taiwan’s sovereignty has not altered.
The DPP demanded that the US reaffirm its position that cross-strait differences must “be resolved peacefully with the assent of Taiwan’s people,” adding that the US should make an announcement on arms sales to show the public that its commitment to the TRA has not changed.
Former representative to the US Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), who was present at the meeting, told the Taipei Times that because the Ma administration was not fulfilling its responsibilities to the public, it was the DPP’s duty to do so.
On US beef, Tsai reiterated the DPP position that negotiations should be reopened.
Tsai said the DPP viewed US beef imports as a public health issue although the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) had accused it of manipulating the matter for election purposes, Hsiao said.
Earlier in the day, Burghardt assured Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) that the US’ Taiwan policy remained unchanged.
After briefing the speaker and several members of the Foreign and National Defense Committee on Obama’s trip to China last week, Burghardt said the US had not changed its policy toward Taiwan, adding that Obama told Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) that arms sales to Taiwan would also remain unchanged. Burghardt said Obama made sure the TRA was included in a press conference after his talks with Hu.
“That was a personal desire by him to make sure it was mentioned,” Burghardt said.
Burghardt arrived in Taipei on Sunday night to brief President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), the legislature and opposition leaders on Obama’s visit to China. KMT Legislator Lin Yu-fang (林郁方) said the chairman emphasized that “the US had not changed its policy toward Taiwan nor sacrificed Taiwan’s interests during Obama’s trip.”
Burghardt told reporters that the US beef controversy was a “phony issue” being manipulated ahead of local elections.
Wang said he told Burghardt that Taiwan would like to resume talks with the US on the trade and investment framework agreement as soon as possible.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY STAFF WRITER
ROLLER-COASTER RIDE: More than five earthquakes ranging from magnitude 4.4 to 5.5 on the Richter scale shook eastern Taiwan in rapid succession yesterday afternoon Back-to-back weather fronts are forecast to hit Taiwan this week, resulting in rain across the nation in the coming days, the Central Weather Administration said yesterday, as it also warned residents in mountainous regions to be wary of landslides and rockfalls. As the first front approached, sporadic rainfall began in central and northern parts of Taiwan yesterday, the agency said, adding that rain is forecast to intensify in those regions today, while brief showers would also affect other parts of the nation. A second weather system is forecast to arrive on Thursday, bringing additional rain to the whole nation until Sunday, it
LANDSLIDES POSSIBLE: The agency advised the public to avoid visiting mountainous regions due to more expected aftershocks and rainfall from a series of weather fronts A series of earthquakes over the past few days were likely aftershocks of the April 3 earthquake in Hualien County, with further aftershocks to be expected for up to a year, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. Based on the nation’s experience after the quake on Sept. 21, 1999, more aftershocks are possible over the next six months to a year, the agency said. A total of 103 earthquakes of magnitude 4 on the local magnitude scale or higher hit Hualien County from 5:08pm on Monday to 10:27am yesterday, with 27 of them exceeding magnitude 5. They included two, of magnitude
CONDITIONAL: The PRC imposes secret requirements that the funding it provides cannot be spent in states with diplomatic relations with Taiwan, Emma Reilly said China has been bribing UN officials to obtain “special benefits” and to block funding from countries that have diplomatic ties with Taiwan, a former UN employee told the British House of Commons on Tuesday. At a House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee hearing into “international relations within the multilateral system,” former Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) employee Emma Reilly said in a written statement that “Beijing paid bribes to the two successive Presidents of the [UN] General Assembly” during the two-year negotiation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Another way China exercises influence within the UN Secretariat is
Taiwan’s first drag queen to compete on the internationally acclaimed RuPaul’s Drag Race, Nymphia Wind (妮妃雅), was on Friday crowned the “Next Drag Superstar.” Dressed in a sparkling banana dress, Nymphia Wind swept onto the stage for the final, and stole the show. “Taiwan this is for you,” she said right after show host RuPaul announced her as the winner. “To those who feel like they don’t belong, just remember to live fearlessly and to live their truth,” she said on stage. One of the frontrunners for the past 15 episodes, the 28-year-old breezed through to the final after weeks of showcasing her unique