The most important single step that the US can take to support Taiwan’s economic prosperity and security is to ensure that the nation is part of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a former senior US Department of State official said on Saturday.
“TPP is turning into a very important organization that we hope will provide greatly expanded trade and investment relations among the most dynamic economies on the globe,” said David Keegan, a former deputy director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and former director of the US Department of State’s Taiwan Coordination Office.
Keegan said TPP could be the “bedrock” for a new era of prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.
He was the keynote speaker at the annual Taiwanese Association of America, Greater Washington Chapter Thanksgiving Banquet in Washington.
“Some say that Taiwan should not be part of the TPP, but that is nonsense,” Keegan said. “Like it or not, China will do anything necessary to ensure that Taiwan is not part of the formal negotiating process for TPP.”
“That is annoying, even infuriating, but it is reality,” Keegan added.
He said Taiwan had some of the best economic minds and some of the best trade negotiators in the Asia-Pacific region.
“With US cooperation and support, they must find ways around the roadblocks and position Taiwan to be a full part of the TPP when it comes into force,” Keegan said.
“Nothing that Taiwan or the US can do is more important to Taiwan’s future prosperity and security than this,” he said. “If we try, if we work together, we can ensure that Taiwan gets what it needs.”
He said that free and fair elections in Taiwan “scare the living daylights” out of the leadership in Beijing.
China warns the US almost every month that the US will “pay a price” unless it abandons Taiwan and every month Washington rejects that warning, Keegan said.
“And we will continue to do so,” he added.
Association president Chen Jen-jen said the banquet had traditionally been an opportunity for the Taiwanese-American community to thank the US “for being such a close friend and ally.”
The keynote speakers were introduced by senior political adviser to the Formosan Association for Public Affairs Gerrit van der Wees.
Former US National Security Council director of Asian affairs Robert Suettinger said China might not be as threatening as it appeared.
He said its economic growth is slowing, it has environmental problems, social and political imbalances, massive corruption within the Chinese Communist Party and the armed forces, and unrest in many areas.
Beijing does not like change that it cannot control, Suettinger said.
As electoral politics develop in Taiwan, China’s attitude and statements “may get tougher and they may get more threatening,” he said.
“Beijing has made use of hard-edged nationalism to win support from the Chinese public,” Suettinger said. “That kind of nationalism will make itself felt in the coming year, perhaps in a shrill and angry tone directed at one or both of the political parties in Taiwan. Keep your minds clear and your hearts strong — the future looks good.”
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
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
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
The US Department of State on Monday reaffirmed that US policy on Taiwan remains unchanged, following US President Donald Trump’s use of the term “unification” while commenting on recent trade talks with China. Speaking at a wide-ranging press conference, Trump described what he viewed as progress in trade negotiations with China held in Geneva, Switzerland, over the weekend. “They’ve agreed to open China — fully open China, and I think it’s going to be fantastic for China. I think it’s going to be fantastic for us,” Trump said. “I think it’s going to be great for unification and peace.” Trump’s use of the
RSS