US Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama has pledged that he would do all he can “to support Taiwan’s democracy in the years ahead,” a Washington insider report said.
In a recent congratulatory letter to President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) on his May 20 inauguration, Obama described Ma’s election as “the latest step in consolidating a democracy that has advanced over the last two decades,” the Nelson Report said.
“The people of Taiwan showed great maturity by endorsing a track of peace, prosperity and good relations with the United States,” Obama said.
While stating his backing for Taiwan’s democracy, Obama nevertheless said: “I support the ‘one China’ policy of the United States, adherence to the three US-People’s Republic of China [PRC] Joint Communiques concerning Taiwan and observance of the Taiwan Relations Act.”
SWITCH
The US Congress passed the Taiwan Relations Act in 1979 when the US switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China.
In addition, Obama commended Ma — who has pledged closer economic ties with China — for having extended “the hand of peace and cooperation to Beijing.”
Ma has vowed to soon implement cross-strait direct flights, which have been banned since dictator Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) fled to Taiwan in 1949.
CONSTRUCTIVE
In the letter, Obama said: “I sincerely hope the People’s Republic of China will respond to the beginning of your presidency in a constructive and forward-leaning way.”
“It is important for Beijing to demonstrate to the people of Taiwan that the practical and non-confrontational approach that you have taken towards the Mainland can achieve positive results,” he stated.
PROGRESS
Obama added that he hoped “there will be progress on issues including development of economic ties, expanding Taiwan’s international space and cross-Straits [sic] security, on which you have made proposals that deserve a good-faith response.”
Taiwan’s efforts over the past decade to join the UN and other affiliated international organizations have failed repeatedly because of opposition from China.
Former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Monday called for greater cooperation between Taiwan, Lithuania and the EU to counter threats to information security, including attacks on undersea cables and other critical infrastructure. In a speech at Vilnius University in the Lithuanian capital, Tsai highlighted recent incidents in which vital undersea cables — essential for cross-border data transmission — were severed in the Taiwan Strait and the Baltic Sea over the past year. Taiwanese authorities suspect Chinese sabotage in the incidents near Taiwan’s waters, while EU leaders have said Russia is the likely culprit behind similar breaches in the Baltic. “Taiwan and our European
The Taipei District Court sentenced babysitters Liu Tsai-hsuan (劉彩萱) and Liu Jou-lin (劉若琳) to life and 18 years in prison respectively today for causing the death of a one-year-old boy in December 2023. The Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office said that Liu Tsai-hsuan was entrusted with the care of a one-year-old boy, nicknamed Kai Kai (剴剴), in August 2023 by the Child Welfare League Foundation. From Sept. 1 to Dec. 23 that year, she and her sister Liu Jou-lin allegedly committed acts of abuse against the boy, who was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries on Dec. 24, 2023, but did not
Taiwanese indie band Sunset Rollercoaster and South Korean outfit Hyukoh collectively received the most nominations at this year’s Golden Melody Awards, earning a total of seven nods from the jury on Wednesday. The bands collaborated on their 2024 album AAA, which received nominations for best band, best album producer, best album design and best vocal album recording. “Young Man,” a single from the album, earned nominations for song of the year and best music video, while another track, “Antenna,” also received a best music video nomination. Late Hong Kong-American singer Khalil Fong (方大同) was named the jury award winner for his 2024 album
Hong Kong singer Eason Chan’s (陳奕迅) concerts in Kaohsiung this weekend have been postponed after he was diagnosed with Covid-19 this morning, the organizer said today. Chan’s “FEAR and DREAMS” concert which was scheduled to be held in the coming three days at the Kaohsiung Arena would be rescheduled to May 29, 30 and 31, while the three shows scheduled over the next weekend, from May 23 to 25, would be held as usual, Universal Music said in a statement. Ticket holders can apply for a full refund or attend the postponed concerts with the same seating, the organizer said. Refund arrangements would
RSS