Saying that Taiwan is aware of the clarifications made by the US concerning Secretary of State Colin Powell's recent "reunification" remarks and Washington's assertion that it would stick to the "Six Assurances," Deputy Secretary-General of the Presidential Office James Huang (黃志芳) yesterday said the explanation from the US was "positive and helpful," and that the government will continue to communicate with the US via multiple channels.
Taiwan's top representative to the US confirmed yesterday that US officials reassured him that Washington will adhere to the "Six Assurances" it made in 1982 as guidelines for its policy toward Taiwan.
During a meeting with Chinese-language media in Washington, David Lee (李大維) confirmed that Randall Shriver, US deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian Affairs, told him that the US' stance on Taiwan's sovereignty has not changed and that the "Six Assurances" remain unchanged.
The Reagan administration offered its "Six Assurances" to Taiwan after it signed a joint communique on Aug. 17, 1982 with China over arms sales to Taiwan.
Lee said that he immediately contacted the State Department to express Taiwan's "grave concern" and asked for clarification after Powell made remarks regarding the cross-strait relationship in an interview with the Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV Group during his Monday visit to Beijing.
In the interview, Powell said that "Taiwan is not independent. It does not enjoy sovereignty as a nation," and that the two sides should move forward to a "peaceful reunification."
According to Lee, Shriver reiterated in a "face to face" talk with him Tuesday that the "Six Assurances," particularly the fifth point -- namely, the US would not alter its position about Taiwan's sovereignty, and the question was to be decided peacefully by the parties involved themselves -- remain unchanged.
Meanwhile, Lee said that Powell clarified during an interview with Ron Insana of CNBC Wednesday that the words "peaceful reunification" should have been "peaceful resolution."
"The term of art really is to have a `peaceful resolution' of the problem. And that's the term of art, and that is our policy and remains our policy," Powell was quoted as saying to CNBC.
Lee said that he believes that Washington will formally reiterate its "Six Assurances" toward Taiwan again shortly, adding that he expected to be briefed by US officials about Powell's recent Beijing visit.
The "Six Assurances" stipulate that the US has not agreed to set a date for ending arms sales to the Republic of China (ROC); has not agreed to hold prior consultations with Beijing on arms sales to the ROC; will not play any mediation role between Taiwan and Beijing; has not agreed to revise the Taiwan Relations Act; has not altered its position regarding sovereignty of Taiwan; and will not exert pressure on Taiwan to enter into negotiations with Beijing.
Meanwhile, Lee said that actually, Powell has on many occasions during his talks with the Chinese leadership spoken favorably on behalf of Taiwan, including saying that the US remains firm in its stance on arms sales to Taiwan despite Beijing's strong opposition and that the US has continued to encourage Beijing to face squarely the goodwill that President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) demonstrated toward China in his Double Ten National Day address.
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
CHIPS AND DEFENSE: Trump said the US had lost its chip business and Taipei should pay it for defense, and added that ‘we’re no different than an insurance company’ Taiwan-US relations are solid, and both sides are in agreement that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region are everyone’s concern, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said yesterday following comments by former US president Donald Trump that Taiwan “should pay” for US defense. Taiwan is thankful to the US for supporting Taiwan’s bid to participate in international organizations, Cho told a news conference in Taipei. “I know the people very well, respect them greatly. They did take about 100 percent of our chip business,” Trump told Bloomberg on June 25 in an interview that was published on Tuesday. “I think
SHOW OF SUPPORT: Taiwan has been one of the largest buyers of US defense equipment, supporting American businesses and jobs, US lawmakers said Taiwan has been paying for its own defense, a US Department of State official said on Wednesday, adding that purchases of military equipment are important to the US economy and for ensuring regional security. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller was asked at a news conference about comments by former US president Donald Trump, the Republican nominee in November’s US presidential election, who said during an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek that Taiwan should pay Washington for its defense needs. “The purchases that they [Taiwan] have made not only are important, we believe, to regional security, but are important to the United States economy,”
Hsu Wen-erh (許汶而) on Friday became the first Taiwanese to swim solo across the English Channel, saying she was very happy to bring Taiwan to the world. Hsu completed the challenge in 12 hours, 17 minutes and eight seconds, after swimming across the Strait of Gibraltar in October last year. She said she had planned to swim the English Channel in August next year, but seized the opportunity when a vacancy became available on the waiting list. She went to the UK in May to train for a test that involves swimming for six hours at 16°C, which people who want to swim