A US lawmaker yesterday urged Washington to increase Taipei’s political, economic and military capabilities in the face of Beijing’s growing aggression.
US Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a former chairwoman of the US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, made the remarks in a speech at the Presidential Office yesterday morning, after receiving the Order of Propitious Clouds with Special Grand Cordon from President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) for her promotion of Taiwan-US ties over the past 30 years.
With the 39th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act just eight days away, Ros-Lehtinen said she was proud to say that the relationship between Taiwan and the US is stronger than ever.
Photo: CNA
“For as long as I am in Congress ... Taiwan and the issues that are important at the face of this island-nation have been near and dear to my heart,” she said.
Lauding Taiwan’s vibrant economy, open society, free media, freedom of expression and respect for human rights, Ros-Lehtinen said these elements are why Taiwan is the US’ natural partner and why it is important for Washington to ensure that “Taiwan remains Taiwan.”
“Whether it is a new trade deal, a new weapons system, increasing ties in Latin America, strengthening of participation in all sorts of international organizations, we have got to work together to ensure that Taiwan has all the tools that she needs to protect itself from Chinese aggression and coercion,” she said.
Tsai said in her speech that the US’ enactment on March 16 of the Taiwan Travel Act, which encourages high-level visits by Taiwanese and US officials, was due to the US Congress’ staunch support for Taiwan.
The strong bilateral ties that the two nations have are the accumulated results of the collective efforts of many people, Tsai said, encouraging Ros-Lehtinen to visit Taiwan more often.
Earlier yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement welcoming Ros-Lehtinen and her delegation after their arrival on Sunday for a three-day visit.
The delegation also includes US Representative Claudia Tenney, who was elected in 2016, the ministry said, adding that Ros-Lehtinen and Tenney are both are members of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus and important allies to Taiwan in the US Congress.
“During her term as committee chairwoman, Ros-Lehtinen held two hearings on ‘Why Taiwan matters’ In addition to urging her colleagues and the US executive branch to value the Taiwan-US relationship, she has also actively pushed for several Taiwan-friendly bills,” the ministry said.
Other evidence of Ros-Lehtinen’s long-time support includes a speech she gave calling for support for the Taiwan Travel Act when it was being reviewed at the House, the ministry said.
Ros-Lehtinen also received Tsai when the president made a transit stop in Miami on her way to the nation’s diplomatic allies in Central America and the Pacific in June 2016, it added.
The US delegation would meet with senior officials to discuss issues of mutual interest and ways to improve relations between Taiwan and the US, the American Institute in Taiwan said.
FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION: The UK would continue to reinforce ties with Taiwan ‘in a wide range of areas’ as a part of a ‘strong unofficial relationship,’ a paper said The UK plans to conduct more freedom of navigation operations in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Lammy told the British House of Commons on Tuesday. British Member of Parliament Desmond Swayne said that the Royal Navy’s HMS Spey had passed through the Taiwan Strait “in pursuit of vital international freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.” Swayne asked Lammy whether he agreed that it was “proper and lawful” to do so, and if the UK would continue to carry out similar operations. Lammy replied “yes” to both questions. The
‘OF COURSE A COUNTRY’: The president outlined that Taiwan has all the necessary features of a nation, including citizens, land, government and sovereignty President William Lai (賴清德) discussed the meaning of “nation” during a speech in New Taipei City last night, emphasizing that Taiwan is a country as he condemned China’s misinterpretation of UN Resolution 2758. The speech was the first in a series of 10 that Lai is scheduled to give across Taiwan. It is the responsibility of Taiwanese citizens to stand united to defend their national sovereignty, democracy, liberty, way of life and the future of the next generation, Lai said. This is the most important legacy the people of this era could pass on to future generations, he said. Lai went on to discuss
SECOND SPEECH: All political parties should work together to defend democracy, protect Taiwan and resist the CCP, despite their differences, the president said President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday discussed how pro-Taiwan and pro-Republic of China (ROC) groups can agree to maintain solidarity on the issue of protecting Taiwan and resisting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The talk, delivered last night at Taoyuan’s Hakka Youth Association, was the second in a series of 10 that Lai is scheduled to give across Taiwan. Citing Taiwanese democracy pioneer Chiang Wei-shui’s (蔣渭水) slogan that solidarity brings strength, Lai said it was a call for political parties to find consensus amid disagreements on behalf of bettering the nation. All political parties should work together to defend democracy, protect Taiwan and resist
By refusing to agree spending increases to appease US President Donald Trump, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez threatened to derail a summit that NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte needs to run smoothly for the sake of the military alliance’s future survival. Ahead of yesterday’s gathering in The Hague, Netherlands, things were going off the rails. European officials have expressed irritation at the spoiler role that Sanchez is playing when their No. 1 task is to line up behind a pledge to raise defense spending to 5 percent of GDP. Rutte needed to keep Spain in line while preventing others such as Slovakia