A Chinese-language report from the Central News Agency (CNA) yesterday said US President Barack Obama had praised Taiwan’s record on “nuclear energy,” although the subject of the message Obama gave to the US Congress was about Taiwan’s commitment to “non-proliferation.”
Obama delivered the message to the US Congress as the White House transmitted the text of the proposed Agreement for Cooperation Between the American Institute in Taiwan and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy to lawmakers for approval.
CNA reported that Obama praised Taiwan as having a reliable record on “nuclear energy.”
The report said that Obama urged Congress to approve the deal regarding US exports of nuclear fuel to Taiwan within 90 days.
According to the text of the US president’s message on the White House Web site, Obama praised Taiwan for having a reliable record on nuclear non-proliferation.
“Over the last two decades, the authorities on Taiwan have established a reliable record on non-proliferation and on commitments to non-proliferation. While the political status of the authorities on Taiwan prevents them from formally acceding to multilateral non-proliferation treaties or agreements, the authorities on Taiwan have voluntarily assumed commitments to adhere to the provisions of multilateral treaties and initiatives,” he said.
Obama said that “the authorities on Taiwan have stated that they will continue to abide by the obligations” of the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction, which Taiwan ratified in 1970 and 1972 respectively.
“The authorities on Taiwan follow International Atomic Energy Agency standards and directives in their nuclear program, work closely with US civilian nuclear authorities and have established relationships with mainland Chinese civilian authorities with respect to nuclear safety,” Obama said.
He did not mention how he perceives the way Taiwan handles nuclear energy.
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