American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Stephen Young yesterday stressed that US-Taiwan relations were stable, while restating the US' longstanding "one China" policy and its opposition to any changes in the cross-strait "status quo."
"US-Taiwan relations are fundamentally sound, fundamentally healthy. Democracy, economic cooperation and security are three planks of our ... engagement with Taiwan," Young said yesterday at AIT during his first formal press conference as director.
Young reiterated that President Chen Shui-bian's (
PHOTO: FANG PIN-CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES
"The people of Taiwan and people of the US understand each other and have a lot of respect for one another," he said.
Young lauded Taiwan's democratic development and welcomed the country's efforts to present its first national security report later this month. He encouraged China to learn from such openness on security matters.
"I think for a democratic society like Taiwan to try and present a comprehensive explanation of its national security policy is a welcome step, and I think it is a model that the PRC should learn from, because they should be more transparent on these issues themselves," he said.
Taiwan's first national security report, to be published later this month, focuses on national security threats from home and abroad as well as Taiwan's overall security environment.
The director stressed that the US engages in "active bilateral dialogue" with Taiwan on security issues.
"US-Taiwan security cooperation is robust and multi-faceted. I'd encourage all Taiwanese political parties to work together on a reasonable defense budget that provides for Taiwan's security in the face of the relentless PRC military buildup," he said.
On the economic side, Young mentioned the upcoming visit of US Deputy Trade Representative Karan Bhatia, the highest-ranked US official to visit Taiwan in the past six years. He said Bhatia's visit was a sign of the stability of US-Taiwan relations.
Bhatia is scheduled to arrive in Taiwan on Thursday to discuss issues relating to the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement as well as other topics of mutual interest in the US-Taiwan trade investment relations.
Besides addressing intellectual property rights, telecommunications and US-Taiwan agricultural cooperation, Bhatia is expected to discuss a possible Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Taiwanese officials, Young said.
Cross-strait economic relations, including discussions of possible transportation links, the outflow of Taiwan's industry to China and the increasing flow of PRC tourists to Taiwan are also likely to be discussed during Bhatia's visit, Young said.
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