Taking tough questions from students challenging the US on its “one China” policy, American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Christopher Marut yesterday reiterated Washington’s stand, but said the younger generation should not be discouraged and should look forward because “being part of the process of speaking out” brings about changes.
Marut took questions from students after a speech at National Tsing Hua University about his three-year tenure as the US representative to Taiwan.
During the question-and-answer session, Marut, who seldom takes impromptu questions from the press since he assumed the position in 2012, opened the floor for about 70 minutes, with students raising questions that reflected their concerns over Taiwan’s limited international space and its status of not being recognized as a country.
A student asked Marut whether the US would respect the wishes of Taiwanese who disagree with the US over its “one China” policy.
Marut said the US cross-strait policy is governed by the “one China” policy, the three communiques between the US and China, and the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA).
“I believe that both sides understand this, and it’s the position that we consistently hold. I would leave it at that,” he said.
A student then asked if the US agrees with China that Taiwan is not a country, which Beijing cited as a reason why Taiwan’s application to become a founding member of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank was not accepted.
Marut said that the US deals with Taiwan in the context of the TRA covering relations between the US and Taiwan.
One student asked why the student-led Sunflower movement, which emerged in March and April last year to protest against the government’s signing of a cross-strait service trade agreement and pushing its ratification in what it called an opaque and undemocratic manner, drew criticism from Washington, despite the US’ repeated statements that democracy and transparency are values it shares with Taiwan.
“Wasn’t it a genuine effort by the students to pursue the true value of democracy and transparent administrative procedures?” the student asked.
Marut said the US’ position on the movement, stated publicly at that time, was that the US believed the issues being debated should be resolved civilly and peacefully.
“I wouldn’t say that was support or non-support. That’s what our position was,” Marut said.
Eva Lin (林越晨) was emotional when speaking about Taiwan being excluded from the international community, drawing on her experiences attending the Harvard World Model UN, the most internationally diverse college-level Model UN conference, held in Seoul in December last year.
“[Among] more than 200 delegates, a handful were from the US or China ... and 31 from Taiwan participating in the Model UN, where we do not even have membership. This pain we suffer... [All the students from] Venezuela, France ... were screaming Taiwan as if there is a country [named Taiwan],” Lin said.
Lin said she believed things would change maybe 20 or 30 years from now because “our generations have changed the mentality.”
To her questions, Marut said: “I think that we are seeing generational changes [in Taiwan] now [from] what we witnessed in the elections [in November] last year.”
“My personal view is that young Taiwanese people are incredibly strong and incredibly motivated, have a very strong belief and strong ideology,” Marut said.
No one can say where the changes will take Taiwan 15 or 20 years from now, but “I would just say to you: Don’t be discouraged and look forward because young people can accomplish a lot and will accomplish a lot,” Marut said.
A senior-high school student asked Marut the US’ views of the presidential election.
Marut repeated what he said in the speech: that the US has full faith in Taiwanese to select leaders who best advance their interests and that it looks forward to working with whomever they choose.
“I am confident we’ll see a smooth transition between administrations after what I am sure will be a fair, transparent and orderly election,” he said.
“Maybe to put it in one sentence: Taiwan’s elections are for the people of Taiwan to decide,” Marut said.
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