Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/08/25
By: Elaine Hou

Taipei, Aug. 25 (CNA) A visiting U.S. congressman reiterated Tuesday that the United States remains committed to helping Taiwan maintain its self-defense.

Steve Russell (R-OK) made his point at the Taiwan-U.S.-Japan Trilateral Security Dialogue in Taipei Tuesday, in response to concerns over the U.S. Congress’ weaker support for Taiwan.

The U.S. government has made it clear that it will continue to help Taiwan maintain its self-defense and the Congress has passed a resolution to reinforce the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), Russel said.

The TRA was enacted in 1979 to maintain commercial, cultural and other unofficial relations between the U.S. and Taiwan after Washington switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing. The TRA also requires the U.S. “to provide Taiwan with arms of a defensive character.”     [FULL  STORY]