Members of the US Congress this week issued statements marking the 36th anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA).
The TRA was passed on April 10, 1979, to form the basis for economic, trade and security ties between the Republic of China and the US following Washington’s decision to switch diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing.
“I would like to reiterate Taiwan’s importance to Asian regional prosperity and stability,” said US Representative Matt Salmon, the chairman of the House of Representatives’ Asia and Pacific subcommittee.
“In addition to the six assurances, the TRA has played a fundamental role in developing the robust unofficial relationship shared between the US and Taiwan,” he said.
Salmon said the TRA had allowed the US to facilitate economic growth and provide for Taiwan’s defense.
“Taiwan’s status today as the United States’ 10th-largest trading partner is a testament to the powerful unofficial relationship we share,” he said.
The four co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Taiwan Caucus — representatives Mario Diaz-Balart, Albio Sires, Gerry Connolly and Gregg Harper — have also written to Representative to the US Shen Lyu-shun (沈呂巡) expressing hope that Taipei and Washington would further strengthen their ties.
Salmon said that he believed Taiwan’s participation in more international organizations should be “welcomed and facilitated.”
“I will continue to support opportunities for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in multilateral organizations where statehood is not a required condition of membership,” he said.
In particular, Salmon is pushing for a greater Taiwanese presence in the International Civil Aviation Organization, the Asian Development Bank, the WHO and the International Criminal Police Organization.
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