The current dispute over the cross-strait service trade agreement would not negatively affect the US’ position on Taiwan’s bid to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) spokesman Mark Zimmer said.
The student-led protest opposing the government’s rushed handling of the pact’s legislative review and the lack of an oversight mechanism has sparked concerns among Taipei officials that negotiations with China on trade in goods would be disrupted, causing Beijing to block the nation’s efforts to take part in regional economic integration, including the TPP.
Zimmer said he did not see a direct relationship between the two issues.
“There is no direct relation. We just finished the TIFA [Trade and Investment Framework Agreement] talks and had some good discussions there in Washington,” Zimmer said.
“We will continue to nurture this very important economic and commercial relation. I don’t see a direct relation with the current dispute,” he added.
Zimmer was referring to the eighth round of talks between Taiwan and the US on the TIFA platform held on Friday last week in Washington.
The US has explicitly welcomed Taiwan’s intent to participate in the TPP, according to statements by US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel during a hearing in the US Congress on Thursday last week and by his deputy, Kin Moy, last month.
Zimmer declined to say how much bearing China would have on the US’ stance toward Taiwan’s TPP membership, saying it was a hypothetical question.
“We don’t know if that would become an actual situation. We will deal with that when it comes,” he said.
Asked about the suggestions made by some academics, including US-Taiwan Business Council chairman Paul Wolfowitz, that the US could bring Taiwan into the regional trading bloc as soon as possible to help it reduce its economic dependence on China, Zimmer said that the current participating members are focused on concluding the first round of negotiations to reach an agreement.
“We will see what happens after that,” Zimmer said.
Meanwhile, Zimmer said, the US would not take sides in the dispute between the government and the student-led protesters because those were issues that Taiwanese need to work out.
“We are hoping to see a peaceful resolution,” he added.
Asked whether the broad disagreement among Taiwanese about the nation’s relationship with China as reflected in the protest would affect US policies toward Taiwan, Zimmer said that the US would not change its policy.
The US-Taiwan relationship is “at a very excellent place,” Zimmer said, adding that the US supports Taiwan’s democracy, values its ties with Taiwan and looks forward to continuing the relationship.
He added that the US encourages steps to deepen cross-strait ties.
Separately, scores of people representing about 10 groups yesterday filed a petition with the AIT in an attempt to draw US President Barack Obama’s attention to the forcible measures that the administration of President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) used to crack down on student protesters who broke into the Executive Yuan compound on March 24.
SLOW-MOVING STORM: The typhoon has started moving north, but at a very slow pace, adding uncertainty to the extent of its impact on the nation Work and classes have been canceled across the nation today because of Typhoon Krathon, with residents in the south advised to brace for winds that could reach force 17 on the Beaufort scale as the Central Weather Administration (CWA) forecast that the storm would make landfall there. Force 17 wind with speeds of 56.1 to 61.2 meters per second, the highest number on the Beaufort scale, rarely occur and could cause serious damage. Krathon could be the second typhoon to land in southwestern Taiwan, following typhoon Elsie in 1996, CWA records showed. As of 8pm yesterday, the typhoon’s center was 180km
TYPHOON DAY: Taitung, Pingtung, Tainan, Chiayi, Hualien and Kaohsiung canceled work and classes today. The storm is to start moving north this afternoon The outer rim of Typhoon Krathon made landfall in Taitung County and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春半島) at about noon yesterday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said, adding that the eye of the storm was expected to hit land tomorrow. The CWA at 2:30pm yesterday issued a land alert for Krathon after issuing a sea alert on Sunday. It also expanded the scope of the sea alert to include waters north of Taiwan Strait, in addition to its south, from the Bashi Channel to the Pratas Islands (Dongsha Islands, 東沙群島). As of 6pm yesterday, the typhoon’s center was 160km south of
STILL DANGEROUS: The typhoon was expected to weaken, but it would still maintain its structure, with high winds and heavy rain, the weather agency said One person had died amid heavy winds and rain brought by Typhoon Krathon, while 70 were injured and two people were unaccounted for, the Central Emergency Operation Center said yesterday, while work and classes have been canceled nationwide today for the second day. The Hualien County Fire Department said that a man in his 70s had fallen to his death at about 11am on Tuesday while trimming a tree at his home in Shoufeng Township (壽豐). Meanwhile, the Yunlin County Fire Department received a report of a person falling into the sea at about 1pm on Tuesday, but had to suspend search-and-rescue
RULES BROKEN: The MAC warned Chinese not to say anything that would be harmful to the autonomous status of Taiwan or undermine its sovereignty A Chinese couple accused of disrupting a pro-democracy event in Taipei organized by Hong Kong residents has been deported, the National Immigration Agency said in a statement yesterday afternoon. A Chinese man, surnamed Yao (姚), and his wife were escorted by immigration officials to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, where they boarded a flight to China before noon yesterday, the agency said. The agency said that it had annulled the couple’s entry permits, citing alleged contraventions of the Regulations Governing the Approval of Entry of People of the Mainland Area into the Taiwan Area (大陸地區人民進入台灣地區許可辦法). The couple applied to visit a family member in
RSS