The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday thanked a group of US senators for proposing a resolution to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Taiwan’s first direct presidential election and to reaffirm US commitment to Taiwan as established in the Taiwan Relations Act and the “six assurances.”
The bipartisan proposal was led by three members of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations — Tammy Duckworth, John Curtis and Tim Kaine — and cosponsored by US senators Pete Ricketts, Jeff Merkley, Rick Scott, Chris Van Hollen, Ted Cruz, Jacky Rosen, Michael Bennet and John Fetterman.
The text of the bill proposed on Monday states that the US Senate commemorates the historic significance of Taiwan’s first direct presidential election held on March 23, 1996, commends Taiwan for building and sustaining a robust democratic system, and regards the democracy of Taiwan as a “great strategic strength for the free world.”
Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei Times
It also states that the US Senate is committed to supporting Taiwan’s self-defense and the freedom of its people, remains committed to the US policy toward Taiwan, as established in the Taiwan Relations Act, the Three Joint Communiques and the “six assurances.”
“For 30 years, democracy has helped our close friend Taiwan flourish — and it’s critical we send a strong, bipartisan message that we’re here with them for the long haul,” Duckworth said in a news release regarding the bill.
The US will “continue to support Taiwan’s prosperity, and we will oppose any kind of unilateral aggression from the PRC [People’s Republic of China] that would endanger a democratic friend or the health and stability of the global economy,” she said.
“Over the past 30 years, Taiwan’s embrace of democratic elections has transformed it into one of the world’s most vibrant, prosperous and innovative societies,” Curtis said. “Its success stands as a powerful testament to the strength of liberty, the rule of law and the enduring promise of self-government.”
“As China continues to take aggressive action toward Taipei, we must recommit to protecting Taiwan’s democratic institutions,” Kaine said.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) yesterday welcomed the US Senate’s affirmation of Taiwan’s democratic achievements, and thanked the bipartisan support for Taiwan’s democracy, freedom and security
MOFA will continue to work hand-in-hand with the US and global democratic partners, and welcomes the international community to take concrete actions to support democratic Taiwan and facilitate regional peace, stability and prosperity, he said.
Reiterating that the Republic of China (ROC) and the PRC are not subordinate to each other, MOFA spokesman Hsiao Kuang-wei (蕭光偉) said that China’s frequent military drills in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding areas have disrupted peace and stability in the region, while its consistent distortion of UN Resolution 2758 is an excuse to suppress Taiwan’s international participation.
Taiwan urged Beijing to respect the ROC’s existence, stop misleading the international community and cease its provocations, Hsiao said.
Only through responsible and rational discussion, based on the principles of respect and equality, with the government directly elected by Taiwanese can cross-strait relations improve, he said.
“Taiwan will continue to stand in unity with the US and democratic partners to uphold a ‘democratic umbrella’ and face the challenges from authoritarianism together, safeguard our shared values and the rules-based international order,” he said.
KEY INDUSTRY: The vice premier discussed a plan to create a non-red drone supply chain by next year, which has been allocated a budget of more than NT$7.2 billion The government has budgeted NT$44.2 billion (US$1.38 billion) to cultivate Taiwan’s uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) industry over the next five years, which would make the nation a major player in the industry’s democratic supply chain in the Asia-Pacific region, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said yesterday. Cho made the remarks during a visit to the facilities of Cub Elecparts Inc (為升電裝). Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chen Su-yueh (陳素月) and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Hsieh Yi-fong (謝依鳳) also participated in the trip. Cub Elecparts has transitioned from the automotive industry to the defense industry, which is the top priority among the nation’s
SOUTH KOREA DISPUTE: If Seoul continues to ignore its request, Taiwan would change South Korea’s designation on its arrival cards, the foreign ministry said If South Korea does not reply appropriately to a request to correct Taiwan’s name on its e-Arrival card system before March 31, the government would take corresponding measures to change how South Korea is labeled on the online Taiwan Arrival Card system, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. South Korea’s e-Arrival card system lists Taiwan as “China (Taiwan)” in the “point of departure” and “next destination” fields. Taipei has asked Seoul to change the wording. Since March 1, South Koreans who hold government-issued Alien Resident Certificates (ARC) have been identified as from “South Korea” rather than the “Republic of Korea,” the
SUFFICIENT: The president said Taiwan has enough oil for next month, with reserves covering more than 100 days and natural gas enough for 12 to 14 days A restart plan for the Guosheng Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei City’s Wanli District (萬里) and the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung County’s Hengchun Township (恆春) would be submitted to the Nuclear Safety Commission by the end of the month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday, reversing the government’s policy to abolish nuclear energy. On May 17 last year, Taiwan shut down its last nuclear reactor and became the first non-nuclear nation in East Asia, fulfilling the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government’s pledge of a “nuclear-free homeland.” Even without nuclear power, Taiwan can maintain a stable electricity supply until 2032,
DEROGATORY: WTO host Cameroon’s designation of Taiwan as a ‘province of China’ seriously undermines the nation’s status and rights as a WTO member, MOFA said The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday condemned Cameroon for listing Taiwan as “Taiwan, Province of China” in visa documents for an upcoming WTO ministerial conference, a move that led to Taiwan’s withdrawal from the event. The designation “seriously undermined” Taiwan’s status and rights as a WTO member, the ministry said in a statement. It is the first time since 2001 that Taiwan has declined to attend a WTO Ministerial Conference. The conference is scheduled to take place from Thursday to Sunday next week in Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon. Taiwan had planned to send a delegation led by Minister Without Portfolio
RSS