About 100 little-known agreements are the “glue that binds America and Taiwan together,” American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Washington Office Managing Director Joe Donovan said.
Speaking at the 46th annual East Coast Taiwanese American Conference, Donovan said that among the areas in which the US and Taiwan cooperate were space exploration, weather forecasting, fighting infectious diseases, combatting global terrorism and global warming.
“It’s the secret behind a great success story,” he said, adding that working under the auspices of the agreements, the US collaborates closely with Taiwan “in ways that benefit both.”
The US National Cancer Institute and the Academia Sinica work to identify proteins that derive from alterations in cancer genomes, he said, while hospital personnel are being trained to treat tuberculosis patients and to better understand tuberculosis transmission and tuberculosis control practices.
Donovan said that one of the most ambitious cooperation programs involves the collection of information on greenhouse gas emissions and indoor air pollutants to study the recycling of industrial waste.
In March, 36 schools in the US and 36 schools in Taiwan were paired in project-based learning to focus on sustainability topics including energy, water and climate change, he said.
Another agreement allows US law enforcement agencies to exchange information with Taiwan on potential international terrorists, he said, adding that the US and Taiwan use data from satellites to detect, monitor and analyze marine oil spills.
Donovan said the special agreements were a tool to support Taiwan’s security, its freedom from coercion, to promote economic prosperity and diversity and to “help Taiwan enjoy the dignity and respect it deserves in the global community.”
“Taiwan has become a model of democracy that respects human rights and the rule of law. It respects freedom of religion. It acts to protect the weak and the innocent, including victims of human trafficking, ” he said. “We are proud of our partnership with Taiwan and look forward to doing even more in the days ahead.”
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