Sat, Feb 24, 2024 page2

• 72 DPP, KMT lawmakers establish joint US caucus

  PARLIAMENTARY GROUPS: A trilateral Taiwan-Australia-New Zealand association and Taiwan-Israel congressional group were also set up to facilitate legislative exchanges

  • By Liu Tzu-hsuan / Staff reporter
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  A 72-member Legislative Yuan US Caucus has been launched to facilitate the stable development of friendly relations with the US, Legislative Deputy Speaker Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) said.

  The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) were planning to establish separate US caucuses, but agreed to merge them into one after a week of negotiations, DPP Legislator Wang Ting-yu (王定宇) told reporters.

  The biggest secondary unit in the legislature is cochaired by Wang and KMT Legislator Ko Chih-en (柯志恩), who said that lawmakers across party lines expressed their willingness to contribute to Taiwan-US relations.

  

  From second right front row, American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Acting Director Jeremy Cornforth, Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wang Ting-yu, vice president-elect Hsiao Bi-khim, Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu ,Legislative Deputy Speaker Johnny Chiang and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Ko Chih-en attend the launch of the Legislative Yuan US Caucus at the legislature in Taipei yesterday.

  Photo: Tien Yu-hua, Taipei Times

  The integration allows Taiwan to be represented by a unified voice while interacting with the US Congress and the US government, which could help facilitate the exchanges, said Chiang, who is also honorary chair of the caucus.

  As the US is one of Taiwan’s most important partners, maintaining a stable, firm and friendly relationship with Washington is not only crucial to Taipei’s security and economy, but also to other countries in the region and beyond, he added.

  The inauguration overlapped with a visit by heavyweight US lawmakers, including Mike Gallagher and Raja Krishnamoorthi, chairman and ranking members respectively of the US House of Representatives Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the US and the Chinese Communist Party.

  Guests at the inauguration included Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜), who said the caucus should contribute to better and closer relations between Taiwan and the US.

  Vice president-elect Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴), former chair of the previous Taiwan-US caucus when she served as a legislator, said that she was happy to see cross-party legislators coming together in the name of diplomacy.

  American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Acting Director Jeremy Cornforth said that the US Congress firmly supports Taiwan, as exemplified by frequent visits by US delegations, 45 years after the passage of the Taiwan Relation Act.

  The caucus consisting of cross-party lawmakers demonstrates that Taiwan-US relations have received widespread support from political circles and the public, he said, adding that the US and the AIT are ready to work with the legislature.

  Separately, the Taiwan-Australia and New Zealand Inter-Parliamentary Amity Association initiated by DPP Legislator Chiu Yi-ying (邱議瑩) was established yesterday, aiming to seek trilateral cooperation in green energy, agriculture and economy.

  Chiu said that she was honored to chair the association for the third term, adding that she hoped association members would be able to travel to Australia and New Zealand to meet with their counterparts, which they were unable to do during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  They would like to learn more about green energy and agricultural developments in the two countries, and seek further economic and trade cooperation, she said.

  Australian Office in Taipei Representative Robert Fergusson said that Canberra could provide stable and reliable energy for Taiwanese companies to operate smoothly and that it supports Taiwan’s goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions through cooperation in wind energy and hydrogen energy.

  New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office Director Mark Pearson said that he hoped the association could help the legislature gain a deeper understanding of his country and create more opportunities for cooperation and mutual benefit.

  Separately, the Taiwan-Israel Congressional Association was established yesterday to promote people-to-people exchanges; cooperation in agriculture, technology and education; and bilateral visits, association chair DPP Legislator Chung Chia-pin (鍾佳濱) said.

  Israeli Representative to Taiwan Maya Yaron thanked Taiwan for supporting Israel and said that a parliamentary delegation is to visit the nation in the next few weeks.
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