The US Department of State on Wednesday said it was “frankly disappointed” with President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) decision to visit Itu Aba Island (Taiping Island, 太平島).
The relatively strong diplomatic reaction was given by spokesman Mark Toner at a regularly scheduled news briefing.
“We view such an action as unhelpful” and it would not contribute to the peaceful resolution of disputes in the South China Sea, he said.
Photo: CNA
“We urge Taiwan and all claimants to lower tensions, to de-
escalate tensions, rather than take actions that could possibly raise them,” Toner added.
In response to questions from the Taiwanese press, Toner said that the US had been very clear about its disagreement with China building structures on South China Sea islands.
“We want to see a halt among all claimants to further land reclamation, construction of new facilities and militarization of outposts,” which would help lower tensions and create space for peaceful resolution, he said.
Asked if Ma’s trip would harm US-Taiwan relations, Toner said: “We have very strong relations with Taiwan, but sometimes we disagree on their actions.”
Toner said the US was committed to a “one China” policy and looked forward to working with president-elect Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and building stronger relations with Taiwan, but “we disagree on this particular act.”
Toner was asked why Ma could not visit an island that Taiwan had occupied for decades and why Taiwan was not included in diplomatic discussions about the South China Sea.
“I can’t speak to whether we would invite Taiwan to take part in diplomatic conversations,” he said.
Ma had “every right” to make his position clear on the South China Sea, Toner said, adding: “We just disagree with this particular action. We view it as frankly raising tensions rather than what we want to see which is de-escalation. We want to see dialogue and welcome all voices in the region weighing in on that dialogue and it is only through a diplomatic mechanism that we can successfully resolve the South China Sea.”
He said that Taiwan is a valued partner and Washington would “continue to listen to their concerns and reflect their concerns.”
Richard Fisher, a senior fellow at the International Assessment and Strategy Center in Alexandria, Virginia, said the US statements sounded like Washington was “throwing Taiwan into the same category of aggressor as China.”
“This may be an attempt to appear neutral and to respond to Chinese criticism that Washington is always bashing China. But criticizing Taiwan will not result in China ceasing its military base building or prevent the likelihood that it will attack other islands and turn them into Chinese military bases as well,” he said
Fisher said Taiwan had sought to differentiate its methods and objectives from China.
“It is China which is clearly seeking to obtain near total control of the South China Sea, build the capability to choke off one of the world’s most important maritime commercial life lines, isolate US allies in Asia and increase its ability to threaten Taiwan,” he said.
EXPRESSING GRATITUDE: Without its Taiwanese partners which are ‘working around the clock,’ Nvidia could not meet AI demand, CEO Jensen Huang said Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) and US-based artificial intelligence (AI) chip designer Nvidia Corp have partnered with each other on silicon photonics development, Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) said. Speaking with reporters after he met with TSMC chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) in Taipei on Friday, Huang said his company was working with the world’s largest contract chipmaker on silicon photonics, but admitted it was unlikely for the cooperation to yield results any time soon, and both sides would need several years to achieve concrete outcomes. To have a stake in the silicon photonics supply chain, TSMC and
SILICON VALLEY HUB: The office would showcase Taiwan’s strengths in semiconductors and artificial intelligence, and help Taiwanese start-ups connect with global opportunities Taiwan has established an office in Palo Alto, one of the principal cities of Silicon Valley in California, aimed at helping Taiwanese technology start-ups gain global visibility, the National Development Council said yesterday. The “Startup Island Taiwan Silicon Valley hub” at No. 299 California Avenue is focused on “supporting start-ups and innovators by providing professional consulting, co-working spaces, and community platforms,” the council said in a post on its Web site. The office is the second overseas start-up hub established by the council, after a similar site was set up in Tokyo in September last year. Representatives from Taiwanese start-ups, local businesses and
‘DETERRENT’: US national security adviser-designate Mike Waltz said that he wants to speed up deliveries of weapons purchased by Taiwan to deter threats from China US president-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for US secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, affirmed his commitment to peace in the Taiwan Strait during his confirmation hearing in Washington on Tuesday. Hegseth called China “the most comprehensive and serious challenge to US national security” and said that he would aim to limit Beijing’s expansion in the Indo-Pacific region, Voice of America reported. He would also adhere to long-standing policies to prevent miscalculations, Hegseth added. The US Senate Armed Services Committee hearing was the first for a nominee of Trump’s incoming Cabinet, and questions mostly focused on whether he was fit for the
SHARED VALUES: The US, Taiwan and other allies hope to maintain the cross-strait ‘status quo’ to foster regional prosperity and growth, the former US vice president said Former US vice president Mike Pence yesterday vowed to continue to support US-Taiwan relations, and to defend the security and interests of both countries and the free world. At a meeting with President William Lai (賴清德) at the Presidential Office in Taipei, Pence said that the US and Taiwan enjoy strong and continued friendship based on the shared values of freedom, the rule of law and respect for human rights. Such foundations exceed limitations imposed by geography and culture, said Pence, who is visiting Taiwan for the first time. The US and Taiwan have shared interests, and Americans are increasingly concerned about China’s
RSS