Taiwan Today
Date: November 22, 2016
President Tsai Ing-wen received a U.S. congressional delegation led by Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson
President Tsai Ing-wen presents U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson with a souvenir Nov. 21 at the Office of the President in Taipei City. (Courtesy of Office of the President)
Nov. 21 at the Office of the President in Taipei City, expressing Taiwan’s commitment to consolidating and deepening the strong ties between the two sides.
Tsai thanked Johnson, a member of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, for her staunch support of the nation’s international participation. The Texas congresswoman co-sponsored a bill, HR 1853, directing U.S. President Barack Obama to develop a strategy to assist Taiwan in obtaining observer status in Interpol that was approved unanimously in November 2015 by the U.S. House of Representatives.
The president reaffirmed the nation’s determination to making significant contributions to major global issues. Tsai added that she expects the newly elected U.S. government will continue to uphold its security commitment to Taiwan as well as maintain close economic and cultural interactions in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act and Six Assurances.
Signed into law in 1979 after the U.S. switched recognition from Taipei to Beijing, the TRA authorizes the continuation of substantive relations between the people of the U.S. and the people of Taiwan. In 1982, then U.S. President Ronald Reagan issued the Six Assurances, stipulating the U.S. would not set a date for ending arms sales to Taiwan; revise the TRA; consult with mainland China on arms sales to Taiwan; mediate between Taiwan and mainland China; alter its position on the sovereignty of Taiwan or exert pressure on Taiwan to enter into talks with mainland China; or formally recognize mainland Chinese sovereignty over Taiwan. [FULL STORY]
