The US Senate on Tuesday unanimously passed Concurrent Resolution 13 reaffirming the US’ commitment to Taiwan and to the implementation of its Taiwan Relations Act (TRA).
The US House of Representatives version of the resolution was passed by the House Foreign Affairs Committee on April 9.
The resolution was introduced on April 4 by US Senator Cory Gardner, chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific and International Cybersecurity Policy.
Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei Times
It was cosponsored by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman James Risch, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman James Inhofe and US senators Robert Menendez and Edward Markey, among others.
Besides recognizing the TRA and the “six assurances” as the “cornerstones of United States relations with Taiwan,” the resolution encourages mutual visits between Taiwanese and US officials at all levels in accordance with the US’ Taiwan Travel Act.
In the resolution, the US Senate “reiterates that the president should conduct regular transfers of defense articles to Taiwan,” “calls upon the secretary of state to actively engage internationally in support of Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations,” and “urges the president to explore opportunities to expand and deepen bilateral economic and trade relations with Taiwan.”
President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday said that the resolution’s passage was an “important expression of the US Congress’ attitude.”
The resolution shows that relations between Taiwan and the US are at their best, she said.
“The efforts of the government have been allowing the US and other [members of the] international community to work together with Taiwan to protect values shared internationally, and to become partners in the goal of regional peace and stability,” Tsai said.
Many countries in the region see Taiwan as an “indispensable partner,” she added.
The passage of “Taiwan-friendly resolutions” by the US Congress carries significant meaning in a year when the TRA is celebrating its 40th anniversary, yet China is attempting to “force ‘one country, two systems’ on Taiwan, dispatching military aircraft across the median line of the Taiwan Strait to engage in provocation and publicly destroying the cross-strait ‘status quo,’” the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US said.
Additional reporting by Aaron Tu
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
The National Development Council (NDC) yesterday unveiled details of new regulations that ease restrictions on foreigners working or living in Taiwan, as part of a bid to attract skilled workers from abroad. The regulations, which could go into effect in the first quarter of next year, stem from amendments to the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals (外國專業人才延攬及僱用法) passed by lawmakers on Aug. 29. Students categorized as “overseas compatriots” would be allowed to stay and work in Taiwan in the two years after their graduation without obtaining additional permits, doing away with the evaluation process that is currently required,
RELEASED: Ko emerged from a courthouse before about 700 supporters, describing his year in custody as a period of ‘suffering’ and vowed to ‘not surrender’ Former Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) was released on NT$70 million (US$2.29 million) bail yesterday, bringing an end to his year-long incommunicado detention as he awaits trial on corruption charges. Under the conditions set by the Taipei District Court on Friday, Ko must remain at a registered address, wear a GPS-enabled ankle monitor and is prohibited from leaving the country. He is also barred from contacting codefendants or witnesses. After Ko’s wife, Peggy Chen (陳佩琪), posted bail, Ko was transported from the Taipei Detention Center to the Taipei District Court at 12:20pm, where he was fitted with the tracking
RSS