GETTING OVER CHINA:Evan Medeiros said Taiwan should address its over-reliance on China, either through new investments in Southeast Asia or more in the US and the EU
Taipei Times
Date: Jan 13, 2017
By: Nadia Tsao and Jake Chung / Staff reporter in Washington, with staff writer
The US did not let Taiwan become a bargaining chip, former US National Security Council senior director
Former US National Security Council senior director for Asia Evan Medeiros is pictured in an undated photograph. Photo courtesy of Evan Medeiros
for Asian affairs Evan Medeiros said in an interview in the US.
“We protected Taiwan and by protecting Taiwan it allows us to have enormous accomplishments,” said Medeiros, who arrived in Taiwan on Wednesday and is to leave today.
The achievements of US President Barack Obama’s administration regarding Taiwan-US relations will hopefully be taken to heart, especially in light of the difficult times facing the relationship due to changes introduced by President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and US president-elect Donald Trump, Medeiros said in an interview with the Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister paper).
Issues regarding Taiwan have been difficult and politically sensitive since 1979, Medeiros said, adding that the key concept on the issue has been whether one has a strategic view and that the implementation of such views was not led by Beijing.
“The Obama administration did not let Beijing manipulate us, but rather we have a very clear vision and systematically pursue it,” Medeiros said.
The Taiwan-US relationship has flourished in economic, diplomatic and military terms, Medeiros said, adding that under the Obama administration’s “reconceptualizing” and “reinstitutionalizing,” high-ranking officials from Taiwan and the US were able to communicate with each other frequently. [FULL STORY]
