A leading Asia scholar with the Cato Institute, a Washington think tank, who will soon join the Bush administration, has advocated that the US government strengthen its relations with Taiwan and put the nation "in the forefront of US policy" in Asia.
Mark A. Groombridge, a research fellow with Cato's Center for Trade Policy Studies, made his comment in a presentation before the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. He stressed that the views he was expressing were his own.
"We should send a much clearer message to Taiwan that their regime, their type of regime, a democratically elected one, is one that the United States government should encourage and actively support," he said
As the Bush administration refocuses its foreign policy on East Asia, it should be "broadening and strengthening our connections with Taiwan, Japan and South Korea," he said.
"These are our allies, these are the models for China. These are the countries that we should want China to be emulating," he said.
Groombridge will leave Cato next month to join the staff of John Bolton, the Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, a strong supporter of Taiwan. He will become Bolton's top Asia advisor.
Groombridge said the US should "clarify" the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act to enhance the US' commitment to Taiwan. The act, enacted after Washington switched diplomatic recognition from the KMT government to Beijing, set Washington's basic policy toward Taiwan, including a commitment to supply defensive arms.
The US should suply Taiwan with "appropriate" arms, Groombridge said.
Conceding that he is not a military expert, he said "whatever [Taiwan] needs, I think the United States should have the right to sell those arms to Taiwan, and we probably should."
He also said that the US and Taiwan should have exchanges of officials at a higher level than currently allowed under US law.
Groombridge expressed concern over possible Chinese military action against Taiwan, especially in a time of turmoil in China in which hardline elements of the PLA might take over the government or wield increased power.
"My point is that any government in China which poses a threat to Taiwan fundamentally poses a threat to US interests and to the interests of the region as a whole," he said.
Gordon Chang (
He noted that earlier this year a top PLA leader predicted a war with Taiwan within the next five years.
"Nobody thinks they're really serious when they say that. But the problem is that when you have a situation where the top leaders are split, things that are said in haste ... can come back and force people into positions that they would otherwise not want to take," Chang said.
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
CELEBRATION: The PRC turned 75 on Oct. 1, but the Republic of China is older. The PRC could never be the homeland of the people of the ROC, Lai said The People’s Republic of China (PRC) could not be the “motherland” of the people of the Republic of China (ROC), President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks in a speech at a Double Ten National Day gala in Taipei, which is part of National Day celebrations that are to culminate in a fireworks display in Yunlin County on Thursday night next week. Lai wished the country a happy birthday and called on attendees to enjoy the performances and activities while keeping in mind that the ROC is a sovereign and independent nation. He appealed for everyone to always love their
‘EXTREME PRESSURE’: Beijing’s goal is to ‘force Taiwan to make mistakes,’ Admiral Tang Hua said, adding that mishaps could serve as ‘excuses’ for launching a blockade China’s authoritarian expansionism threatens not only Taiwan, but the rules-based international order, the navy said yesterday, after its top commander said in an interview that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) could blockade the nation at will. The object of Beijing’s expansionist activities is not limited to Taiwan and its use of pressure is not confined to specific political groups or people, the navy said in a statement. China utilizes a mixture of cognitive warfare and “gray zone” military activities to pressure Taiwan, the navy said, adding that PLA sea and air forces are compressing the nation’s defensive depth. The navy continues to
MISSILE MISSION: The Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology said it does not make policy, but would be glad to obtain certification to assemble the missiles The Ministry of National Defense-affiliated Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology is in the process of getting certified to assemble an additional 1,985 Stinger missiles on top of those from US arms sales, a senior defense official said yesterday. Washington is to send a team to Taiwan to evaluate the institute’s manufacturing capabilities and information security, said the official, who commented on condition of anonymity. The ministry initially bought 500 missiles for the army and navy, but later increased the order to 2,485 in response to an increase in Beijing’s military activities around the nation, and to meet the army’s urgent need
RSS