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.”
NO HUMAN ERROR: After the incident, the Coast Guard Administration said it would obtain uncrewed aerial vehicles and vessels to boost its detection capacity Authorities would improve border control to prevent unlawful entry into Taiwan’s waters and safeguard national security, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday after a Chinese man reached the nation’s coast on an inflatable boat, saying he “defected to freedom.” The man was found on a rubber boat when he was about to set foot on Taiwan at the estuary of Houkeng River (後坑溪) near Taiping Borough (太平) in New Taipei City’s Linkou District (林口), authorities said. The Coast Guard Administration’s (CGA) northern branch said it received a report at 6:30am yesterday morning from the New Taipei City Fire Department about a
IN BEIJING’S FAVOR: A China Coast Guard spokesperson said that the Chinese maritime police would continue to carry out law enforcement activities in waters it claims The Philippines withdrew its coast guard vessel from a South China Sea shoal that has recently been at the center of tensions with Beijing. BRP Teresa Magbanua “was compelled to return to port” from Sabina Shoal (Xianbin Shoal, 仙濱暗沙) due to bad weather, depleted supplies and the need to evacuate personnel requiring medical care, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Jay Tarriela said yesterday in a post on X. The Philippine vessel “will be in tiptop shape to resume her mission” after it has been resupplied and repaired, Philippine Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who heads the nation’s maritime council, said
REGIONAL STABILITY: Taipei thanked the Biden administration for authorizing its 16th sale of military goods and services to uphold Taiwan’s defense and safety The US Department of State has approved the sale of US$228 million of military goods and services to Taiwan, the US Department of Defense said on Monday. The state department “made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale” to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US for “return, repair and reshipment of spare parts and related equipment,” the defense department’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a news release. Taiwan had requested the purchase of items and services which include the “return, repair and reshipment of classified and unclassified spare parts for aircraft and related equipment; US Government
More than 500 people on Saturday marched in New York in support of Taiwan’s entry to the UN, significantly more people than previous years. The march, coinciding with the ongoing 79th session of the UN General Assembly, comes close on the heels of growing international discourse regarding the meaning of UN Resolution 2758. Resolution 2758, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1971, recognizes the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the “only lawful representative of China.” It resulted in the Republic of China (ROC) losing its seat at the UN to the PRC. Taiwan has since been excluded from