Taiwan Today
Date: June 6, 2016

President Tsai Ing-wen received the largest U.S. Senate delegation in 10 years headed by U.S. Sen.

John McCain, chairman of the U.S. Senate Armed Service Committee, June 5 at the Office of the President in Taipei City, expressing hopes of strengthening Taiwan-U.S. relations across the areas of economy, international participation and security.

“Ties between Taiwan and the U.S. are going from strength to strength, as evidenced when the Congress reaffirmed the Taiwan Relations Act and Six Assurances as the cornerstone of bilateral relations last month,” Tsai said.

Signed into law in 1979 following the switch of recognition from Taipei to Beijing by the U.S., the TRA authorizes the continuation of substantive relations between the people of the U.S. and the people on Taiwan in the absence of diplomatic ties between them.

In 1982, the Reagan administration issued the Six Assurances, stipulating that the U.S. would not set a date for termination of arms sales to Taiwan; alter the terms of the TRA; consult with mainland China in advance before making decisions about U.S. arms sales to Taiwan; mediate between Taiwan and mainland China; alter its position about the sovereignty of Taiwan and pressure Taiwan to enter into negotiations with mainland China; and formally recognize mainland Chinese sovereignty over Taiwan.     [FULL  STORY]