President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) is a pragmatic and responsible leader and the US thanks Tsai for maintaining stable cross-strait links even as Beijing ratchets up its pressures on Taiwan, American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Chairman James Moriarty said on Wednesday at an event marking Double Ten National Day in Washington.
It is apparent that cross-strait relations are affected by the lack of trust and the US is to actively encouraging constructive dialogue that seeks to avoid miscalculations and reconcile differences through patience, flexibility and innovation, Moriarty said in a prepared speech for the event held at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office’s Twin Oaks Estate.
The US will continue to help China and Taiwan to find a peaceful solution that is acceptable to both peoples, he said, adding neither side should attempt to change the “status quo” unilaterally.
Photo: Nadia Tsao, Taipei Times
Peaceful and stable cross-strait relations are beneficial to both sides and are in the US national interest, he said.
Moriarty declined to comment on Premier William Lai’s (賴清德) recent comments about Taiwanese independence, saying he would not discuss cross-strait relations on the basis of any individual comment.
However, the US does wish to see constructive dialogue across the Taiwan Strait, he said.
In response to questions from reporters, Morarty said “only time will tell” whether Beijing would change direction in cross-strait relations, adding this was an issue decided by Beijing, and over which the US has no control.
Trust between Taiwan and the US should begin with effective communications and Tsai has showed pragmatism and innovation in her conduct with China, he said.
However, Taiwan and China must conduct exchanges in that spirit if the relationship is to develop, he said.
Asked about US President Donald Trump’s scheduled trip to China next month, Moriarty downplayed the possibility that Trump would make major policy changes during his visit.
“I do not anticipate the occurrence of anything surprising,” he said.
The relationship between Taiwan and the US has solid foundations and it is a mature relationship that is supported powerfully by the efforts of both sides, he added.
Moriarty also said that he was not aware of any specific Chinese plans to invade Taiwan, but each nation must take its security seriously, adding that all militaries make plans.
Taiwan should develop a powerful military for defense and deterrence against attacks, he said.
As Taiwan and the US develop a relationship, it is also necessary to pursue stability across the Strait to achieve stability and prosperity in the broader region, Moriarty said.
Taiwan’s safety is highly important to the greater security of the Asia-Pacific region and no one should take its security as a given, he said.
The US believes that a safe, confident and non-coerced Taiwan would be better for the development of constructive relations with Beijing, therefore, it supports Taiwan’s participation in international affairs, economic ties and security cooperation, he said.
While the US will continue the sales of arms and other services necessary for Taiwan’s capacity for self-defense, the relationship between the two nations are not limited by arms sales alone, he said.
The US will do its utmost to promote Taiwan’s participation in international affairs, Moriarty said, adding that he was please Representative to the US Stanley Kao (高碩泰) took part in the last month’s Community of Democracies summit, which was chaired by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.
ANOTHER EMERGES: The CWA yesterday said this year’s fourth storm of the typhoon season had formed in the South China Sea, but was not expected to affect Taiwan Tropical Storm Gaemi has intensified slightly as it heads toward Taiwan, where it is expected to affect the country in the coming days, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. As of 8am yesterday, the 120km-radius storm was 800km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost tip, moving at 9kph northwest, the agency said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued tonight at the earliest, it said, adding that the storm is projected to be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday. Gaemi’s potential effect on Taiwan remains unclear, as that would depend on its direction, radius and intensity, forecasters said. Former Weather Forecast
As COVID-19 cases in Japan have been increasing for 10 consecutive weeks, people should get vaccinated before visiting the nation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said. The centers reported 773 hospitalizations and 124 deaths related to COVID-19 in Taiwan last week. CDC Epidemic Intelligence Center Director Guo Hung-wei (郭宏偉) on Tuesday said the number of weekly COVID-19 cases reported in Japan has been increasing since mid-May and surpassed 55,000 cases from July 8 to July 14. The average number of COVID-19 patients at Japan’s healthcare facilities that week was also 1.39 times that of the week before and KP.3 is the dominant
The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) working group for Taiwan-related policies is likely to be upgraded to a committee-level body, a report commissioned by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said. As Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) is increasingly likely to upgrade the CCP’s Central Leading Group for Taiwan Affairs, Taiwanese authorities should prepare by researching Xi and the CCP, the report said. At the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the CCP, which ended on Thursday last week, the party set a target of 2029 for the completion of some tasks, meaning that Xi is likely preparing to
US-CHINA TRADE DISPUTE: Despite Beijing’s offer of preferential treatment, the lure of China has dimmed as Taiwanese and international investors move out Japan and the US have become the favored destinations for Taiwanese graduates as China’s attraction has waned over the years, the Ministry of Labor said. According to the ministry’s latest income and employment advisory published this month, 3,215 Taiwanese university graduates from the class of 2020 went to Japan, surpassing for the first time the 2,881 graduates who went to China. A total of 2,300 graduates from the class of 2021 went to the US, compared with the 2,262 who went to China, the document showed. The trend continued for the class of 2023, of whom 1,460 went to Japan, 1,334 went to