A recent US Congressional hearing held by US Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen on “Why Taiwan Matters” suggests continued US support for Taiwan and that Washington would not abandon Taiwan, Formosa Foundation chief executive Terri Giles said yesterday.
Ros-Lehtinen, who is also chairman of the US House of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs Committee, is planning to organize and invite administration officials to a second congressional hearing on issues concerning Taiwan at the end of the year, Giles said, adding that she hoped the discussion would focus on democracy in Taiwan.
The June 16 hearing held by Ros-Lehtinen before the House Foreign Affairs Committee was the first hearing on Taiwan to be held in Congress in seven years.
The Los Angeles-based Formosa Foundation, which played an important role in making the hearing happen, also had members of this year’s “Ambassador Program” observe the hearing.
The Ambassador Program is a congressional program organized by the foundation with the aim of deepening each participant’s knowledge of international relations, with an emphasis on US-Taiwan relations.
During the graduation ceremony for program participants yesterday, Giles called on the members to bring messages of support for Taiwan back to their electoral district, adding that they should never be pessimistic about Taiwan’s future.
Taiwan Relations ACT
Giles said that Ros-Lehtinen was drafting an act in relation to the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), adding that the foundation was also actively communicating with the congresswoman’s office to convey their hope that changes would not be made to the TRA, but to clarify Congress’ legislative intent in the act.
For example, the TRA supports Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the international community, but the administration often interprets it in a relatively narrow sense, Giles said, adding that arms sales between the two nations should not be on and off like they are now.
The US Congress should bring forth a better interpretation and enforcement of the TRA that fits the current reality as the existing act was enacted when Taiwan was not yet a democratic nation, she added.
The Formosa Foundation, a non-profit organization established in 2001, aims to promote understanding and support for Taiwan within the US, encouraging and offering opportunities for Taiwanese youth to participate in US politics, as well as promoting friendship among people in the Asia-Pacific.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CNA
The Executive Yuan yesterday announced that registration for a one-time universal NT$10,000 cash handout to help people in Taiwan survive US tariffs and inflation would start on Nov. 5, with payouts available as early as Nov. 12. Who is eligible for the handout? Registered Taiwanese nationals are eligible, including those born in Taiwan before April 30 next year with a birth certificate. Non-registered nationals with residence permits, foreign permanent residents and foreign spouses of Taiwanese citizens with residence permits also qualify for the handouts. For people who meet the eligibility requirements, but passed away between yesterday and April 30 next year, surviving family members
The German city of Hamburg on Oct. 14 named a bridge “Kaohsiung-Brucke” after the Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung. The footbridge, formerly known as F566, is to the east of the Speicherstadt, the world’s largest warehouse district, and connects the Dar-es-Salaam-Platz to the Brooktorpromenade near the Port of Hamburg on the Elbe River. Timo Fischer, a Free Democratic Party member of the Hamburg-Mitte District Assembly, in May last year proposed the name change with support from members of the Social Democratic Party and the Christian Democratic Union. Kaohsiung and Hamburg in 1999 inked a sister city agreement, but despite more than a quarter-century of
Taiwanese officials are courting podcasters and influencers aligned with US President Donald Trump as they grow more worried the US leader could undermine Taiwanese interests in talks with China, people familiar with the matter said. Trump has said Taiwan would likely be on the agenda when he is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) next week in a bid to resolve persistent trade tensions. China has asked the White House to officially declare it “opposes” Taiwanese independence, Bloomberg reported last month, a concession that would mark a major diplomatic win for Beijing. President William Lai (賴清德) and his top officials
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday expressed “grave concerns” after Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong (黃循財) reiterated the city-state’s opposition to “Taiwanese independence” during a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang (李強). In Singapore on Saturday, Wong and Li discussed cross-strait developments, the Singaporean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. “Prime Minister Wong reiterated that Singapore has a clear and consistent ‘one China’ policy and is opposed to Taiwan independence,” it said. MOFA responded that it is an objective fact and a common understanding shared by many that the Republic of China (ROC) is an independent, sovereign nation, with world-leading
RSS