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.
MISINFORMATION: The generated content tends to adopt China’s official stance, such as ‘Taiwan is currently governed by the Chinese central government,’ the NSB said Five China-developed artificial intelligence (AI) language models exhibit cybersecurity risks and content biases, an inspection conducted by the National Security Bureau (NSB) showed. The five AI tools are: DeepSeek, Doubao (豆包), Yiyan (文心一言), Tongyi (通義千問) and Yuanbao (騰訊元寶), the bureau said, advising people to remain vigilant to protect personal data privacy and corporate business secrets. The NSB said it, in accordance with the National Intelligence Services Act (國家情報工作法), has reviewed international cybersecurity reports and intelligence, and coordinated with the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau and the National Police Agency’s Criminal Investigation Bureau to conduct an inspection of China-made AI language
BOOST IN CONFIDENCE: The sale sends a clear message of support for Taiwan and dispels rumors that US President Donald Trump ‘sold out’ the nation, an expert said The US government on Thursday announced a possible sale to Taiwan of fighter jet parts, which was estimated to cost about US$330 million, in a move that an expert said “sends a clear message of support for Taiwan” amid fears that Washington might be wavering in its attitude toward Taipei. It was the first announcement of an arms sale to Taiwan since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House earlier this year. The proposed package includes non-standard components, spare and repair parts, consumables and accessories, as well repair and return support for the F-16, C-130 and Indigenous Defense Fighter aircraft,
CHECKING BOUNDARIES: China wants to disrupt solidarity among democracies and test their red lines, but it is instead pushing nations to become more united, an expert said The US Department of State on Friday expressed deep concern over a Chinese public security agency’s investigation into Legislator Puma Shen (沈伯洋) for “secession.” “China’s actions threaten free speech and erode norms that have underpinned the cross-strait ‘status quo’ for decades,” a US Department of State spokesperson said. The Chongqing Municipal Public Security Bureau late last month listed Shen as “wanted” and launched an investigation into alleged “secession-related” criminal activities, including his founding of the Kuma Academy, a civil defense organization that prepares people for an invasion by China. The spokesperson said that the US was “deeply concerned” about the bureau investigating Shen
DISPUTE: A Chinese official prompted a formal protest from Tokyo by saying that ‘the dirty head that sticks itself out must be cut off,’ after Takaichi’s Taiwan remarks Four armed China Coast Guard vessels yesterday morning sailed through disputed waters controlled by Japan, amid a diplomatic spat following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments on Taiwan. The four ships sailed around the Senkaku Islands — known as the Diaoyutai Islands (釣魚台) to Taiwan, and which Taiwan and China also claim — on Saturday before entering Japanese waters yesterday and left, the Japan Coast Guard said. The China Coast Guard said in a statement that it carried out a “rights enforcement patrol” through the waters and that it was a lawful operation. As of the end of last month,
RSS