American Institute in Taiwan Director William Stanton yesterday defended US policy on arms sales to Taiwan, while reassuring Taiwan that the US was a “dependable” friend.
Answering a question from a diplomacy major from China after delivering a speech on US-Taiwan relations at National Chengchi University, Stanton dismissed the student’s view that US arms sales to Taiwan had the potential of turning the nation into a regional troublemaker rather than a peacemaker.
“It [cross-strait relations] is a two-way street,” Stanton said.
Given the number of missiles China deploys along its coast against Taiwan and the fact that China has never withdrawn its threat to strike Taiwan should the government in Taipei declare independence, Taiwanese feel vulnerable, Stanton said.
“There hasn’t been much done by the mainland [to make Taiwanese feel less threatened]. I think much could be done to reassure [the] people of Taiwan,” Stanton said.
Stanton said the possibility of US arms sales to Taiwan turning Taiwan into a troublemaker was not the main issue.
“I think the principal issue is ... cross-strait relations and the sense of threat people here feel,” he said.
Stanton said US arms sales to Taiwan were in line with the Taiwan Relations Act, a policy going back 30 years that commits the US to supporting Taiwan’s self-defense needs.
“It is not necessarily a bad thing, particularly when the weapons don’t threaten the mainland [sic], and they are largely defensive,” Stanton said.
Earlier in the speech, Stanton said that Washington welcomed improved cross-strait ties and believed they would foster stability and make Taiwan a more attractive place for investment.
“It avoids the risk of miscalculation and potential conflict, which is the greatest concern we all have,” he said. “[However], Taiwanese people’s sense of security — politically, economically or militarily — is not as strong as it should be despite the warming ties.”
Stanton said Taiwan needed friends to feel secure and that the US would continue to serve as a dependable friend for Taiwan.
“It is clear to me since the [US President Barack] Obama administration came in ... That’s the clear direction we are going in our policy. I don’t foresee any fundamental changes,” he said, adding that the US would not waver in its commitment to providing sufficient self-defense capability to Taiwan, as stipulated in the Taiwan Relations Act.
Stanton remained tight-lipped, however, on the sale of F-16C/D fighter jets, saying the issue was still under discussion.
Stanton said the US was very interested in pursuing trade and economic ties with Taiwan and both Taipei and Washington had been discussing a resumption of negotiations over a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement.
“We have been in discussion already and are waiting for suggestions of when, where and what the agenda would be from Taiwan,” he said, adding that the US had proposed talks on areas such as electronic commerce.
SHIPS, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES: The ministry has announced changes to varied transportation industries taking effect soon, with a number of effects for passengers Beginning next month, the post office is canceling signature upon delivery and written inquiry services for international registered small packets in accordance with the new policy of the Universal Postal Union, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday. The new policy does not apply to packets that are to be delivered to China, the ministry said. Senders of international registered small packets would receive a NT$10 rebate on postage if the packets are sent from Jan. 1 to March 31, it added. The ministry said that three other policies are also scheduled to take effect next month. International cruise ship operators
HORROR STORIES: One victim recounted not realizing they had been stabbed and seeing people bleeding, while another recalled breaking down in tears after fleeing A man on Friday died after he tried to fight the knife-wielding suspect who went on a stabbing spree near two of Taipei’s busiest metro stations, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said. The 57-year-old man, identified by his family name, Yu (余), encountered the suspect at Exit M7 of Taipei Main Station and immediately tried to stop him, but was fatally wounded and later died, Chiang said, calling the incident “heartbreaking.” Yu’s family would receive at least NT$5 million (US$158,584) in compensation through the Taipei Rapid Transit Corp’s (TRTC) insurance coverage, he said after convening an emergency security response meeting yesterday morning. National
PLANNED: The suspect visited the crime scene before the killings, seeking information on how to access the roof, and had extensively researched a 2014 stabbing incident The suspect in a stabbing attack that killed three people and injured 11 in Taipei on Friday had planned the assault and set fires at other locations earlier in the day, law enforcement officials said yesterday. National Police Agency (NPA) Director-General Chang Jung-hsin (張榮興) said the suspect, a 27-year-old man named Chang Wen (張文), began the attacks at 3:40pm, first setting off smoke bombs on a road, damaging cars and motorbikes. Earlier, Chang Wen set fire to a rental room where he was staying on Gongyuan Road in Zhongzheng District (中正), Chang Jung-hsin said. The suspect later threw smoke grenades near two exits
The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency yesterday launched a gift box to market honey “certified by a Formosan black bear” in appreciation of a beekeeper’s amicable interaction with a honey-thieving bear. Beekeeper Chih Ming-chen (池明鎮) in January inspected his bee farm in Hualien County’s Jhuosi Township (卓溪) and found that more than 20 beehives had been destroyed and many hives were eaten, with bear droppings and paw prints near the destroyed hives, the agency said. Chih returned to the farm to move the remaining beehives away that evening when he encountered a Formosan black bear only 20m away, the agency said. The bear
RSS