CAUTION: Lawmakers in Taipei said Taiwan should not be ‘overly optimistic’ about relations with the US and that the legislation might escalate tensions across the Strait
Taipei Times
Date: Mar 02, 2018
By: Staff writer, with agencies
The US Senate on Wednesday passed a bill promoting closer ties with Taiwan, which
President Tsai Ing-wen speaks at a social gathering for business groups at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
Beijing has warned could threaten stability in the Taiwan Strait, but drew praise from Taipei, which pledged to deepen cooperation.
The US Senate unanimously passed the Taiwan Travel Act. In January, the bill passed the US House of Representatives without opposition.
The legislation now only needs US President Donald Trump’s signature to become law.
It should be US policy to allow US officials at all levels to travel to Taiwan to meet their Taiwanese counterparts, permit high-level Taiwanese officials to enter the US “under respectful conditions” and meet with US officials, and encourage Taiwanese economic and cultural representatives to conduct business in the US, the bill says. [FULL STORY]
