Twenty-four Republican members of the US House of Representatives yesterday introduced a concurrent resolution calling on the US government to abolish the “one China” policy and restore formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
Led by US representatives Tom Tiffany and Scott Perry, the resolution calls for not only re-establishing formal relations, but also urges the US Trade Representative to negotiate a free-trade agreement (FTA) with Taiwan and for US officials to advocate for Taiwan’s full membership in the UN and other international organizations.
In a news release announcing the resolution, Tiffany, who represents a Wisconsin district, called the “one China” policy “outdated, counterproductive and dishonest.”
Photo: AFP
The US “inexplicably” treats Taiwan’s democratically elected government “the same way it treats brutal regimes in North Korea and Iran,” the news release said.
Taiwan’s diplomatic, cultural and economic links around the world demonstrate its “clear and indisputable independence from the People’s Republic of China,” the resolution says.
The “so-called ‘one China policy’ is obsolete, does not serve the people of Taiwan or the US, and fails to reflect the obvious reality” of Taiwan’s independence, the resolution adds.
The resolution cites previous statements and legislation, such as the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 and then-US president Ronald Reagan’s “six assurances” as well as arms sales and the Taiwan Travel Act to demonstrate that Taiwan is a “steadfast” ally of the US.
In addition to calling for an FTA and Taiwan’s inclusion in international organizations, the resolution also suggests sending a US ambassador to Taiwan and receiving a Taiwanese ambassador to the US, and rescinding guidelines on interactions between officials in both countries.
A resolution, unlike a bill, is not presented to the president for action and is not a law, but serves to express the US Congress’ position on an issue.
A concurrent resolution requires approval from both the US House of Representatives and the Senate.
It comes just two days after a bill, led by US representatives Young Kim and Al Green, was introduced to the House of Representatives calling for Taiwan’s inclusion in the IMF.
LOUD AND PROUD Taiwan might have taken a drubbing against Australia and Japan, but you might not know it from the enthusiasm and numbers of the fans Taiwan might not be expected to win the World Baseball Classic (WBC) but their fans are making their presence felt in Tokyo, with tens of thousands decked out in the team’s blue, blowing horns and singing songs. Taiwanese fans have packed out the Tokyo Dome for all three of their games so far and even threatened to drown out home team supporters when their team played Japan on Friday. They blew trumpets, chanted for their favorite players and had their own cheerleading squad who dance on a stage during the game. The team struggled to match that exuberance on the field, with
Whether Japan would help defend Taiwan in case of a cross-strait conflict would depend on the US and the extent to which Japan would be allowed to act under the US-Japan Security Treaty, former Japanese minister of defense Satoshi Morimoto said. As China has not given up on the idea of invading Taiwan by force, to what extent Japan could support US military action would hinge on Washington’s intention and its negotiation with Tokyo, Morimoto said in an interview with the Liberty Times (sister paper of the Taipei Times) yesterday. There has to be sufficient mutual recognition of how Japan could provide
UPDATED TEST: The new rules aim to assess drivers’ awareness of risky behaviors and how they respond under certain circumstances, the Highway Bureau said Driver’s license applicants who fail to yield to pedestrians at intersections or to check blind spots, or omit pointing-and-calling procedures would fail the driving test, the Highway Bureau said yesterday. The change is set to be implemented at the end of the month, and is part of the bureau’s reform of the driving portion of the test, which has been criticized for failing to assess whether drivers can operate vehicles safely. Sedan drivers would be tested regarding yielding to pedestrians and turning their heads to check blind spots, while drivers of large vehicles would be tested on their familiarity with pointing-and-calling
A Taiwanese man apologized on Friday after saying in a social media post that he worked with Australia to provide scouting reports on Taiwan’s team, enabling Australia’s victory in this year’s World Baseball Classic (WBC), saying it was a joke and that he did not hold any position with foreign teams or Taiwan’s sports training center. Chen Po-hao (陳柏豪) drew the rage of many Taiwan baseball fans when he posted online on Thursday night, claiming credit for Australia’s 3-0 win over Taiwan in the opening game for Pool C, saying he worked as a physical therapist with the national team and
RSS