Taiwan appreciates the US’ firm commitment to Taiwan based on the Taiwan Relations Act and the “six assurances,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said today following a phone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) and US President Donald Trump.
The ministry said it is keeping a close watch on interactions between China and the US while maintaining good communication with Washington.
Since taking office, the Trump administration has repeatedly reaffirmed its support for Taiwan and the long-standing US policy toward Taiwan, the ministry said.
Photo: Yang Cheng-yu, Taipei Times
The US has highlighted Taiwan’s strategic importance in its latest National Security Strategy and called for deterrence of conflict in the Taiwan Strait by enhancing collective defense, it said.
Washington has also continued its policy of normalizing arms sales to Taiwan, it added.
The two countries’ partnership has become closer, as Taipei and Washington have concluded the Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue and signed a joint statement endorsing the principles of the Pax Silica Declaration, the ministry said.
Taiwan has consistently supported efforts by all parties that help ensure the “status quo” of regional security and stability, and reduce risks arising from any unilateral use of force or threats, it said.
As a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan continues to bolster its self-defense capabilities and work with like-minded allies, including the US, to uphold the “status quo” and ensure peace, stability and prosperity in the region and across the Taiwan Strait, it said.
Meanwhile, China's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Chen Binhua (陳斌華) today told a news conference that Taiwan is at the core of China’s interests and the first red line that must not be crossed in US-China relations, the Chinese state-run Global Times reported.
He accused the Democratic Progressive Party administration of repeatedly attempting to “seek independence through external support” or “seek independence by force,” leading to tensions and instability in the Taiwan Strait, the report said.
Chen urged Washington to abide by the “one China” principle and the Three Joint Communiques, and handle Taiwan-related issues with utmost prudence, it said.
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the coast of Yilan County at 8:39pm tonight, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said, with no immediate reports of damage or injuries. The epicenter was 38.7km east-northeast of Yilan County Hall at a focal depth of 98.3km, the CWA’s Seismological Center said. The quake’s maximum intensity, which gauges the actual physical effect of a seismic event, was a level 4 on Taiwan’s 7-tier intensity scale, the center said. That intensity level was recorded in Yilan County’s Nanao Township (南澳), Hsinchu County’s Guansi Township (關西), Nantou County’s Hehuanshan (合歡山) and Hualien County’s Yanliao (鹽寮). An intensity of 3 was
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