20110121 Lack of apparent changes reassures Taipei: analysts

Lack of apparent changes reassures Taipei: analysts

Staff writer, with CNA

The statements by US President Barack Obama regarding Taiwan during a visit to Washington by Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) have given Taiwan confidence and reassured its government that improved cross-strait ties will not affect its relations with the US, analysts said yesterday.

Obama and US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton have both praised Taiwan and China for signing the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) and reiterated that the US’ “one China” policy is based on its three joint communiques with China as well as the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA).

The US is not likely to “cut off its own arm” by abrogating the TRA — a US law that defines relations with Taiwan, said Stephen Chen (陳錫蕃), a former Taiwanese representative to the US.

Chen said Taiwan need not worry about being betrayed by the US because Washington wants to make money in Taiwan and China and maintain friendship with both sides.

“Is there a better deal than that?” he said.

Alan Romberg, a US expert on cross-strait affairs, said Washington’s policy toward Taiwan, including its arms sale policy, has not changed as a result of Hu’s latest visit to the US.

Some people in Taiwan might have been concerned that Hu’s second visit to the US in five years would harm Taiwan’s interests, but there are no signs of any substantive changes in US policy toward Taiwan, Romberg said.

Senior Taiwanese officials interpreted Obama’s comment on the ECFA and mention of the TRA as a positive indicator, saying that the US “was very clear about Taiwan’s concerns and interests.”

Obama’s support for the peaceful progress of relations across the Taiwan Strait and recognition of Taiwan’s needs is “apparently a positive development,” the officials said.

The officials further said that Obama raised the issues of -human rights and Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo (劉曉波) with Hu, an indication that the US will never give up on human rights — one of its founding principles and a pillar of its nation-building values.

The US’ latest position on the issue will give Ma a boost of confidence when he addresses the Taiwanese public on the sensitive issue of cross-strait ties, analysts said.

Lai I-chung (賴怡忠), an executive board member of Taiwan Thinktank, however, sounded a note of alarm.

Pointing to the fact that the TRA was not included in Obama and Hu’s joint statement, Lai said he is concerned that Taiwan might face being marginalized.