The US does not consider an improvement in Taiwan’s relationship with China something that might harm Taiwan-US relations, American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) spokesman Mark Zimmer said yesterday, adding that: “We believe they can all proceed in parallel.”
In response to reporters’ questions regarding cross-strait relations in general, Zimmer said the US continues to support the strengthening and deepening of the relationship as long as it is done in a way agreeable to people on both sides.
“There is no inverse effect or negative effect on the US-Taiwan relationship as the cross-strait relationship progresses as long as things happen in a way that is acceptable to people on both sides of the [Taiwan] Strait,” Zimmer said.
Zimmer yesterday answered questions from the press after delivering opening remarks in which he said that the US government remains committed to its strategic policy of “rebalancing” toward Asia.
The policy is still going strong, Zimmer said.
“It’s not dead. The rebalancing is something we are very focused on and it remains a priority for the [US] president,” he added.
“It’s important to note that Taiwan has a role in the strategy,” Zimmer said, reiterating statements made earlier this year by US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel and US Secretary of State John Kerry, who in a speech last month praised the signing of a fishery agreement between Taiwan and Japan.
Zimmer said the US also commends Taiwan for its contributions to the international community in the areas of disaster response, science, health and pandemic preparedness, citing as examples the assistance Taiwan delivered to the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan last year and the two Taiwanese doctors sent to Nigeria to help fight Ebola amid the outbreak in west Africa.
Asked how US government officials have responded to leaders of the Sunflower movement, who asked the US government to drop its “one China” policy during a recent visit to the US, Zimmer said he needed to check further on the outcome of their meetings in Washington.
However, the AIT spokesman stressed that Washington’s “one China” policy “isn’t changing and won’t change in the near future.”
“I certainly wouldn’t expect that our one China policy is going to change any time soon. It’s quite set,” he said.
Asked about the US’ views on President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) desire to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), Zimmer said that was an issue for Taiwan and China to work out, not for the US to decide.
Meanwhile, Zimmer said that a contract dispute that arose last year between US-based Weston Solutions Inc, the contractor for the AIT’s Neihu project, and Taiwanese subcontractors has been resolved, adding that the office compound is scheduled to open in the second half of next year.
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