Beijing might increase pressure for political and military negotiations with Taiwan, a report by the US Congressional Research Service said.
The report — an overview of US-Taiwan policy issues — is to be used as a guide for both houses of the US Congress when it comes into power next month.
According to the report, pressure from Beijing can be expected “further into” President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) second and final term.
While the report was actually written by Asian security affairs expert Shirley Kan and Asian trade and finance expert Wayne Morrison before the last months nine-in-one elections, it reflects perceived political changes in Taiwan.
“Beijing’s patience could be tested further by the sustained separate identity in Taiwan,” the report said.
“Despite the pronouncements of a ‘one China’ by leaders in Taipei and Beijing, and closer cross-strait ties, Taiwan’s people retain a strong Taiwan-centric identity over a century of mostly separation from mainland China,” the report said.
Still, it points out that Taiwan has “pragmatically pursued” prosperity, security, a democratic way of life and self-governance.
“Moderate voters generally have supported economic ties to the PRC amid political separation,” the report said.
It says the US could work with Taiwan to increase cooperation on international security.
“Taiwan could boost its defense and foreign aid spending, counter cyberthreats, and improve counter-espionage amid cases in Taiwan of alleged spying for Beijing,” the report said.
It added: “Taiwan has the option to increase military or civilian missions in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.”
While Taiwan has been of significant security, economic and political interest to the US, it has “posed challenges” to US engagement with China.
“For decades, Taipei has harbored fears about whether Beijing’s cooperation with Washington has occurred at the expense of Taiwan’s interests,” the report said.
It highlights 15 separate points of policy that the new Congress should consider.
The report asks: “How might Congress exercise its roles in US policy on Taiwan? How might Congress ensure momentum in strengthening US-Taiwan cooperation or ties?”
Members of Congress are asked to consider if the administration of US President Barack Obama is sticking to the Taiwan Relations Act in selling weapons to enable Taiwan to maintain sufficient self-defense capability.
“How effectively is the administration encouraging Taiwan to strengthen its self-defense, including by increasing the defense budget?” the report asked.
Congress is also asked to consider if US policy should allow or encourage more senior Taiwanese officials to visit the US, and encourage expanded communication with Taiwan’s president.
Significantly, the report asks Congress if the US should negotiate a free-trade agreement or bilateral investment agreement and support Taiwan’s efforts to join regional trade blocs such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
SPACE VETERAN: Kjell N. Lindgren, who helps lead NASA’s human spaceflight missions, has been on two expeditions on the ISS and has spent 311 days in space Taiwan-born US astronaut Kjell N. Lindgren is to visit Taiwan to promote technological partnerships through one of the programs organized by the US for its 250th national anniversary. Lindgren would be in Taiwan from Tuesday to Saturday next week as part of the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ US Speaker Program, organized to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said in a statement yesterday. Lindgren plans to engage with key leaders across the nation “to advance cutting-edge technological partnerships and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers,”
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus yesterday said it opposes the introduction of migrant workers from India until a mechanism is in place to prevent workers from absconding. Minister of Labor Hung Sun-han (洪申翰) on Thursday told the Legislative Yuan that the first group of migrant workers from India could be introduced as early as this year, as part of a government program. The caucus’ opposition to the policy is based on the assessment that “the risk is too high,” KMT caucus secretary-general Lin Pei-hsiang (林沛祥) said. Taiwan has a serious and long-standing problem of migrant workers absconding from their contracts, indicating that
UNREASONABLE SURVEILLANCE: A camera targeted on an road by a neighbor captured a man’s habitual unsignaled turn into home, netting him dozens of tickets The Taichung High Administrative Court has canceled all 45 tickets given to a man for failing to use a turn signal while driving, as it considered long-term surveillance of his privacy more problematic than the traffic violations. The man, surnamed Tseng (曾), lives in Changhua County and was reported 45 times within a month for failing to signal while driving when he turned into the alley where his residence is. The reports were filed by his neighbor, who set up security cameras that constantly monitored not only the alley but also the door and yard of Tseng’s house. The surveillance occurred from July
TRADE-OFF: Beijing seeks to trade a bowl of tempura for a Chinese delicacy, an official said, while another said its promises were attempts to interfere in the polls The government must carefully consider the national security implications of building a bridge connecting Kinmen County and Xiamen, China, the Public Construction Commission (PCC) said yesterday. PCC Commissioner Derek Chen (陳金德), who is also a minister without portfolio, made the remarks in a meeting of the legislature’s Transportation Committee, after Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Hsu Fu-kuei (徐富癸) asked about China’s proposal of new infrastructure projects to further connect Kinmen and Lienchiang (Matsu) counties with Xiamen. China unveiled the bridge plan, along with nine other policies for Taiwan, on Sunday, the last day of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun’s (鄭麗文) visit
RSS