•Publication Date：10/06/2011
•Source： Taiwan Today
•By Rachel Chan
Taiwan and the U.S. have made significant progress on a number of critical issues, including arm sales, visa-waiver privileges and trade cooperation, indicating that the two share a robust relationship, the ROC Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Oct. 5.
“The ROC government appreciates U.S. efforts in actively strengthening bilateral relations, as well as bipartisan Congressional support on a number of issues related to Taiwan,” MOFA said in a press release.
The ministry’s remarks follow an Oct. 4 hearing in the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the U.S. House of Representatives on “Why Taiwan Matters.”
Peter Lavoy, principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Asia-Pacific, and Kurt Campbell, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, both testified at the hearing, reiterating the U.S. commitment to help Taiwan in maintaining its self-defense capability and Washington’s determination to broaden relations at all levels with Taipei.
Regarding progress on including Taiwan in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, Campbell said Washington is close to granting Taiwanese travelers visa-free entry, considering the two sides share frequent civilian exchanges and close economic ties.
“We are working toward the finish line,” he said.
Campbell noted that Washington has upgraded the level of formal contacts with Taipei, and will continue to dispatch high-ranking officials on visits to Taiwan, adding that the administration is looking forward to meetings with senior Taiwan representatives on the sidelines of the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
As to cross-strait security, Lavoy reaffirmed U.S. commitment to the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, which obligates the U.S. to provide Taiwan with sufficient weaponry to meet its self-defense needs.
“Today, the U.S. has a deep security relationship with Taiwan, as indicated by the administration’s strong record on arm sales—defense articles totaling over US$12 billion have been approved for Taiwan in the last two years,” Lavoy said.
The administration of U.S. President Barack Obama officially notified Congress Sept. 21 of its intent to sell Taiwan a weapons package totaling US$5.85 billion, including the upgrade of Taiwan’s aging F-16 A/B fighter jet fleet, but not incorporating Taipei’s long-standing request for F-16 C/D jets and diesel-electric submarines.
Lavoy contended the F-16 A/B retrofit project will make the planes comparable in capability to new F-16 C/Ds, and offers “the best bang for the buck at this time.”
The upgrading package and F-16 C/D purchase request are two separate cases and the U.S. is still considering the latter, he added.
Campbell stressed that there were no consultations with any sovereign third party with respect to the decision the administration made to upgrade the F-16s.
He said the TRA; the “six assurances” made to Taiwan by former President Ronald Reagan in 1982 regarding arms sales, sovereignty and negotiations between the ROC and mainland China; and the three communiques between the U.S. and mainland China form the foundation for Washington’s overall approach in dealing with cross-strait issues.
He went on to point out that the U.S. “has long been a vocal supporter of Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations,” including the World Health Organization, International Civil Aviation Organization and UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
“Taiwan’s future will always be based on a deep and abiding friendship with the American people and a close and strong partnership,” Campbell added.
