Taiwan has welcomed the latest arms sales package announced by the US, with both the Presidential Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs saying that it highlights the fact that Taiwan-US relations have never been better.
President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) applauded the US’ continued commitment to the Taiwan Relations Act and its “six assurances” regarding arms sales to Taiwan, Presidential Office spokesman Charles Chen (陳以信) said late on Wednesday.
It is the fourth package to be approved since Ma took office in May 2008 and the third under US President Barack Obama’s administration, Chen said, adding that the total value of the packages — more than US$20.13 billion — is the highest in any period during the past two decades.
Chen said that the amount translates into an annual average of US$2.51 billion during Ma’s tenure, exceeding the US$1.05 billion per annum during the term of former persident Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and also the annual average of US$1.35 billion under former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝).
By promoting the development of bilateral relations based on the principles of honesty, a low profile and zero surprises, the Ma administration has helped bring relations with the US to their best state since bilateral diplomatic ties were severed 36 years ago, Chen said.
The foreign ministry late on Wednesday also issued a statement extending a “heartfelt welcome” and appreciation for the arms deal.
The scale of the arms sales over the past seven years “fully demonstrates the fact that the US honors through concrete actions its commitment to our security under the Taiwan Relations Act and the ‘six assurances’ given to Taiwan in 1982,” the ministry said.
“It also highlights the fact that Taiwan-US relations are at their best ever,” the ministry said.
Instead of obstructing the development of Taiwan’s relations with China, the latest arms sales is to “help maintain peace and stability across the strait and increase our confidence as we engage in dialogue and improve relations across the Taiwan Strait,” the ministry said.
The package also underscores the common interest that Taiwan and the US share in the region and Taiwan’s strategic position as an important economic and security partner of the US in the Asia-Pacific region, it added.
The Ministry of National Defense said the deal could help imrove the bilateral security partnership to maintain peace and stability in the region.
The package will boost Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities and ensure cross-strait peace and stability, while the deal “was planned under consideration of integrated evolving regional security situation, and defense capabilities were assessed based on joint operational requirements,” a defense ministry statement said.
“Acquisition of arms will be phased over a period of years.... It enables Taiwan to develop and maintain a credible defense, which is in the interest of the ROC [the Republic of China] and the US. Both parties will continue to strengthen security partnership to maintain regional peace and stability in the long run,” the statement said.
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