US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul on Wednesday announced that he would visit Taiwan later this year and voiced concerns about delays in the delivery of weapons to the nation.
McCaul made the announcement at a reception in Washington celebrating the 45th anniversary of the promulgation of the Taiwan Relations Act and welcoming Representative to the US Alexander Yui (俞大㵢).
The event was cohosted by the US Senate Taiwan Caucus, the US Congressional Taiwan Caucus and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US.
Photo: AFP
The act was signed into law by then-US president Jimmy Carter on April 10, 1979, and became retroactively effective from Jan. 1 the same year.
Deterrence is key when facing aggressors and dictators, which was why the US passed the act, McCaul said.
Failing to deliver arms in sales that have already been approved is not in accordance with the act, he said.
Agence France-Presse reported yesterday that McCaul is to attend the inauguration of president-elect William Lai (賴清德) in May, to which McCaul’s office said it is “unclear” whether he will attend.
Asked about McCaul’s attendance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it has no relevant information so far but visits from US lawmakers and other friends of Taiwan are always welcome.
The office said that 42 members of the US Senate and the US House of Representatives attended the celebration.
US Representative Nancy Pelosi said that sending a delegation to attend the inauguration demonstrates Washington’s commitment to ties with Taiwan, which are beneficial to all.
The act is a reflection of the courage shown by Taiwan and the US, which is a beautiful place with a lot for the world to learn from, said Pelosi, who in 2022 visited the nation when she was House speaker.
US representatives Mario Diaz-Balart and Ami Bera, cochairs of the US Congressional Taiwan Caucus, said that the act and strong bipartisan support from the US Congress are “the cornerstones of the Taiwan-US partnership.”
The relationship between Taiwan and the US has flourished under the act, American Institute in Taiwan Chair Laura Rosenberger said, adding that Taiwan has become a beacon of democracy in the Indo-Pacific region and the world, as well as a technology hub that is a key investment destination and source for US businesses.
Yui pledged to “build upon the solid foundation” laid by his predecessors, including vice president-elect Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴), and to work with the US Congress and executive branch to enhance the bilateral relationship, the office said.
Taiwan “deeply appreciates” the strong bipartisan support from the US Congress, Yui said, adding that he hopes a bill providing double taxation relief to Taiwanese businesses and workers in the US would be passed soon.
In related news, US Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on the US Senate floor urged Washington to stand with Taiwan and invest in the nation’s military capabilities to guard against China.
The passing of the act was “a cornerstone of US foreign policy,” as “our friends ... have continued to write an incredible story of resilience,” McConnell said.
He commended Taiwan’s “strong democracy, a robust civil society and a modern, innovative high-tech economy,” adding that Taiwanese “have planted themselves squarely, squarely on the side of free societies and the free market.”
The Taiwan-US relationship “holds unique value” and “will be increasingly seen as a test of whether America’s commitment to allies and partners hold any water,” he said.
The US “cannot afford to neglect” the strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific region, especially when China continues to increase its defense spending and modernize its military, aiming to “redraw the map by force,” he said.
As Taiwan is “clear-eyed about challenges posed by revisionist power today that they’re helping a fellow democracy halfway around the world, Ukraine,” the US should recognize its own interest in maintaining the international order, McConnell said.
“Standing by our friends, standing up to adversaries and investing in the military capacity to do both” are “the fundamental tasks at hand” for the US, he said.
Additional reporting by CNA
This story has been amended since it was first published.
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