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Kerry commits to
Taiwan¡¦s defense
REGIONAL STABILITY: Supplying Taiwan with
adequate defense is in line with the Taiwan Relations Act and the US¡¦ ¡¥one
China¡¦ policy, the new US state secretary said
Staff writer, with CNA, Washington
US Secretary of State John Kerry
delivers remarks to a foreign policy classroom at the State Department in
Washington, highlighting his key objectives, as he begins his duties as
secretary on Thursday.
Photo: AFP
The US will continue its commitment to
Taiwan and will help Taiwan maintain adequate defense capability, US Secretary
of State John Kerry said recently in response to questions from the Senate.
Kerry added that Washington would continue to support Taiwan¡¦s bid for
meaningful participation in international bodies, such as the International
Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The US Department of State will work with the international community to help
with Taiwan¡¦s participation in the ICAO, Kerry said in his response to questions
submitted by Robert Menendez, chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations
Committee.
The US will also encourage other UN agencies and global organizations to expand
opportunities for Taiwan to participate in their technical and specialist
meetings, Kerry said.
He also reaffirmed that the US would help Taiwan maintain adequate self-defense.
He firmly reiterated the US¡¦ support for Taiwan, in response to questions on the
Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) and the ¡§six assurances¡¨ submitted by Republican
Senator Bob Corker and Democratic Senator Ben Cardin, both members of the
foreign relations committee.
Supplying Taiwan with weapons to maintain adequate defense capability is in line
with the TRA and the US¡¦ ¡§one China¡¨ policy, Kerry said. These long-existing
policies have contributed to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, he added.
Commenting on the exchange, Representative to the US King Pu-tsung (ª÷·ÁÁo)
expressed gratitude for the senators¡¦ concern for Taiwan¡¦s international
participation and said he hoped that the US Congress would continue its close
cooperation with Taiwan.
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US also welcomed
Kerry¡¦s support for Taiwan¡¦s bid to participate in the ICAO and his commitment
to Taiwan¡¦s security. The office said it looks forward to cooperating with
Kerry¡¦s team to further expand Taiwan¡¦s international participation and advance
Taipei-Washington ties.
The TRA, enacted in 1979 after the US severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in
favor of China, obliges the US to help Taiwan defend itself.
In 1982, then-US president Ronald Reagan offered Taiwan six assurances, which
included a promise that the US would not set a date for termination of arms
sales to Taiwan.
Kerry, a former head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, succeeded
Hillary Rodham Clinton as secretary of state on Feb. 1.
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