|
US representatives
praise ¡¥strategic partnership¡¦
By William Lowther / Staff reporter in Washington
Two members of the US Congress this week officially inserted remarks into the
Congressional Record to praise the ¡§longstanding strategic partnership¡¨ between
the US and Taiwan.
Democratic representatives Shelley Berkley and Robert Andrews were both
commemorating the 33rd anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act
(TRA).
In addition, Berkley said that she also wanted to mark the 10th anniversary of
the founding of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus.
The representatives said they were reinforcing the fact that both the 1979 TRA
and 1982¡¦s ¡§six assurances¡¨ formed ¡§the cornerstone of our relationship with the
people of Taiwan.¡¨
¡§The PRC [People¡¦s Republic of China] persists in claiming Taiwan as a renegade
province, refusing to renounce the use of force to prevent formal de jure
independence,¡¨ Andrews said.
¡§The people of Taiwan continue to live day after day under the ominous shadow
cast by over 1,400 short and medium-range ballistic missiles that the PRC has
aimed at them,¡¨ he added.
He said the TRA remains a model of congressional leadership in the history of US
foreign relations.
Berkley said the caucus, which now has 155 members, reflects a ¡§broad and stable
consensus in the US Congress regarding the importance of Taiwan.¡¨
¡§Taiwan is well on the path to becoming a mature and fully consolidated
democracy. Our shared values form an ever stronger foundation of trust for
cooperation across our many areas of mutual interest,¡¨ Berkley said.
Mark Kao (°ªÀsºa), president of the Washington-based Formosa Association of Public
Affairs, said the TRA and the ¡§six assurances¡¨ together enabled Taiwan to
develop its ¡§vibrant democracy.¡¨
However, he said that Taiwanese-Americans were ¡§eagerly anticipating¡¨ the
adoption by Congress of the Taiwan Policy Act, which is designed to strengthen
provisions of the TRA.
Passed by the House Foreign Affairs Committee in November last year, the Taiwan
Policy Act is expected to go to a floor vote in the House next month.
|
