The raising of the Republic of China’s (ROC) national flag at a New Year’s Day ceremony at Twin Oaks Estate in Washington last week was “not consistent” with US policy, US Department of State spokesperson Jan Psaki said on Monday.
“We did not know about the Jan. 1 flag-raising at Twin Oaks in advance,” she said.
The statement — made in answer to a question at the daily press briefing — came as a surprise.
Photo: CNA
Representative to the US Shen Lyu-shun (沈呂巡) was quoted following the flag-raising ceremony as saying he had notified the administration of US President Barack Obama in advance and was granted permission to raise the flag as long as it was not widely publicized.
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) in Washington referred questions about Psaki’s reaction to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taipei.
According to earlier reports, Beijing was “furious” about the flag-raising and lodged a formal objection.
It was believed to be the first time that the Taiwanese flag had been raised at Twin Oaks — the residence of the nation’s official representative to the US — since the US switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing 36 years ago.
Sources who closely monitor the Taiwan-US relationship told the Taipei Times on Monday they were “very surprised” by the State Department statement because it seemed “inconceivable” that TECRO would raise the flag without US permission.
“Why do it now? It doesn’t make any sense,” one source said.
He said the relationship was so “sensitive” and subject to such tight diplomatic protocols that nothing could be gained and potentially much goodwill could be lost by ignoring the agreed-upon rules.
Psaki said that the US remained fully committed to the “one China” policy, based on the three communiques and the Taiwan Relations Act.
“No US government personnel attended the event in any capacity,” Psaki said.
“Nothing has changed as it relates to our relationship,” she added.
A US reporter asked: “Are you objecting to a private ceremony at which there was — that some people raised the Taiwanese flag?”
“We just said the ceremony is not consistent with our policy. That’s it,” Psaki replied.
The reporter pressed: “Well, so what?”
Psaki said she had been asked for the US position on the flag-raising and was giving that position.
The reporter then asked: “If I raise the flag of Narnia over my house, that’s going to be inconsistent with US policy?”
There was laughter in the press room as Psaki answered: “We may talk about you, but I don’t know if I’ll have a US government comment on it.”
The reporter asked if the US government was involved “in any way, shape or form” in the raising of the Taiwanese flag at Twin Oaks.
“No, we were not,” Psaki said. “We didn’t attend. We didn’t know about it. That’s our specific comment.”
The reporter asked: “Can you not raise the Taiwan flag in the United States? Is that what you’re saying?”
“I don’t have anything more,” Psaki replied.
Finally, she was asked if China had made a protest and she said: “I’d point you to the Chinese on that.”
Taiwan is projected to lose a working-age population of about 6.67 million people in two waves of retirement in the coming years, as the nation confronts accelerating demographic decline and a shortage of younger workers to take their place, the Ministry of the Interior said. Taiwan experienced its largest baby boom between 1958 and 1966, when the population grew by 3.78 million, followed by a second surge of 2.89 million between 1976 and 1982, ministry data showed. In 2023, the first of those baby boom generations — those born in the late 1950s and early 1960s — began to enter retirement, triggering
ECONOMIC BOOST: Should the more than 23 million people eligible for the NT$10,000 handouts spend them the same way as in 2023, GDP could rise 0.5 percent, an official said Universal cash handouts of NT$10,000 (US$330) are to be disbursed late next month at the earliest — including to permanent residents and foreign residents married to Taiwanese — pending legislative approval, the Ministry of Finance said yesterday. The Executive Yuan yesterday approved the Special Act for Strengthening Economic, Social and National Security Resilience in Response to International Circumstances (因應國際情勢強化經濟社會及民生國安韌性特別條例). The NT$550 billion special budget includes NT$236 billion for the cash handouts, plus an additional NT$20 billion set aside as reserve funds, expected to be used to support industries. Handouts might begin one month after the bill is promulgated and would be completed within
NO CHANGE: The TRA makes clear that the US does not consider the status of Taiwan to have been determined by WWII-era documents, a former AIT deputy director said The American Institute in Taiwan’s (AIT) comments that World War-II era documents do not determine Taiwan’s political status accurately conveyed the US’ stance, the US Department of State said. An AIT spokesperson on Saturday said that a Chinese official mischaracterized World War II-era documents as stating that Taiwan was ceded to the China. The remarks from the US’ de facto embassy in Taiwan drew criticism from the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, whose director said the comments put Taiwan in danger. The Chinese-language United Daily News yesterday reported that a US State Department spokesperson confirmed the AIT’s position. They added that the US would continue to
IMPORTANT BACKER: China seeks to expel US influence from the Indo-Pacific region and supplant Washington as the global leader, MAC Minister Chiu Chui-cheng said China is preparing for war to seize Taiwan, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said in Washington on Friday, warning that Taiwan’s fall would trigger a regional “domino effect” endangering US security. In a speech titled “Maintaining the Peaceful and Stable Status Quo Across the Taiwan Strait is in Line with the Shared Interests of Taiwan and the United States,” Chiu said Taiwan’s strategic importance is “closely tied” to US interests. Geopolitically, Taiwan sits in a “core position” in the first island chain — an arc stretching from Japan, through Taiwan and the Philippines, to Borneo, which is shared by
RSS