A resolution has been introduced into the US’ 111th Congress calling for president-elect Barack Obama to establish diplomatic relations with Taiwan. It also calls for an end to the US’ “one China” policy and support for Taiwan’s full membership in international organizations.
While the resolution, which was written by long-time Taiwan supporter Congressman John Linder, a Republican from Georgia, has no realistic chance of changing US policies, it is important in that it keeps the issue alive and in the minds of the US’ top politicians.
A similar resolution was introduced in 2005 and 2007 by then congressman Tom Tancredo, a Colorado Republican, who has since retired.
The US and Taiwan have not had official diplomatic ties since 1979 when Washington formally recognized China.
The new resolution asks Obama to recognize Taiwan as a sovereign and independent country separate from China.
It also says the president-elect should aggressively support Taiwan’s full participation at the UN and all other international organizations of which the US is a member.
“The introduction of Congressman Linder’s resolution during the first week of 2009 when the new Congress gets back to work is extraordinarily poignant as a reaffirmation of US Congress support for Taiwan,” said Bob Yang, president of the Washington-based Formosan Association for Public Affairs.
“Despite the severance of diplomatic ties by the US 30 years ago, Taiwan has flourished as a fledgling democracy with impressive economic achievements,” he said.
“The world recognizes Taiwan as a beacon of freedom. Separate recognition by the US of China and Taiwan could be a model for those nations which seek to align both countries in a mutual co-existing relationship,” Yang said.
Should the resolution ever come to a vote, it would be unlikely to attract more than the 151 ballots from the current members of the Taiwan caucus. It would need a majority of the 435 members to pass the House and would then face even more formidable odds in the 100-member US Senate, where it has not even been introduced.
A source close Obama’s foreign policy advisers told the Taipei Times: “Taiwan continues to enjoy many warm feelings in the US Congress. We are sensitive to the issue.”
NATIONAL SECURITY: Authorities are working to confirm the identities of the military personnel involved and investigating possible illegal conduct and regulatory violations Authorities are probing possible national security implications after Kinmen police and immigration officers on Sunday found a Chinese woman allegedly posing as a tourist while engaging in prostitution involving more than 10 military personnel. The woman, surnamed Chen (陳), has since been deported, authorities said, adding that investigators are still working to confirm the identities of those implicated, as the records only listed code names and aliases. The case stemmed from a report received by the Kinmen District Prosecutors’ Office on Friday last week from the Jinhu Precinct of the Kinmen County Police Bureau. On Sunday, police, along with the National Immigration
STAY COOL: The HPA recommended that people stay hydrated, use air-conditioning or fans while indoors, wear loose-fitting clothes and walk in the shade while outdoors Employers must implement measures such as installing cooling equipment, and providing drinking water and rest breaks for outdoor workers starting from Monday next week, the Taipei Department of Labor said on Sunday. Employers who fail to comply could face fines of NT$30,000 to NT$300,000 under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (職業安全衛生法), the department said. Businesses in Taipei employing fewer than 100 workers, as well as registered self-employed workers with labor insurance coverage, could receive on-site assessments and guidance from occupational safety consultants to help them apply for central government subsidies to implement or improve heat-protection measures, it said. Under the Ministry of
GLOBALGIVING: ‘ Caving to external pressure is not acceptable for an organization that has cultivated justice reform and human rights for 30 years,’ one NGO said A slew of non-government organizations (NGOs) have withdrawn from the GlobalGiving fundraising platform after it announced it would use “Chinese Taipei” instead of “Taiwan” from next month. The Taiwan Good Rice Association wrote on Facebook on Friday that it was informed on April 28 via a teleconference call of the change, which was made because the platform wanted to operate in China. Taiwan Good Rice is to terminate all cooperative relationships with GlobalGiving in response to the platform’s “unilateral and non-negotiable” decision to remove references to Taiwan, the NGO said. “Taiwan is in the official name of Taiwan Good Rice Association and the
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) yesterday briefed her party’s Central Standing Committee regarding her scheduled visit to the US between Monday next week and June 16, saying that her purpose would be to persuade the US that the Republic of China (ROC) Constitution was a “one China” constitution that would foster stable and peaceful cross-strait relations. The ROC Constitution is the most important defense for all Taiwanese citizens, as it upholds our democracy and has contributed to our robust economy, which aligns with international and US interests, she said. “We would not be troublemakers and drag the US under,”
RSS