ALLIES: One senator said Taiwan has more bipartisan backing than any other place in the world, while another said that it should be a partner in the US’ Indo-Pacific strategy
Taipei Times
Date: Apr 12, 2019
By: Staff writer, with CNA
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and three members of the US Congress voiced
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo testifies before the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in Washington on Wednesday.Photo: Reuters
support for Taiwan on Wednesday, the 40th anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA).
At a congressional hearing on the US Department of State’s budget, Pompeo said that he plans to fully adhere to the TRA, which was signed into law on April 10, 1979, as well as the Taiwan Travel Act and the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act, which were both passed last year, to strengthen the US’ partnership with Taiwan.
“We have a lot going on with AIT [the American Institute in Taiwan] with our senators there,” Pompeo said, when asked if high-level US officials would visit Taiwan in the near future to demonstrate the US’ commitment to Taiwan.
US Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific and International Cybersecurity Policy Chairman Cory Gardner said at the hearing that the TRA, the “six assurances” issued in 1982 by then-US president Ronald Reagan, the Taiwan Travel Act and the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act have become cornerstones of US relations with Taiwan. [FULL STORY]
