The three candidates vying to become the next president of the US have all sent their congratulations to Ma Ying-jeou (
Illinois Senator Barack Obama, the leading candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, sent the most detailed statement, dealing with a long list of issues facing Taiwan as it contends with a hostile China, while senators John McCain, the Republican candidate, and Hillary Clinton, Obama's rival for the Democratic nomination, sent shorter, less detailed messages.
"The people of Taiwan deserve our respect and admiration for this free and fair election, which is just the latest step in consolidating a democracy that has advanced over the last two decades," Obama said.
"March 22nd was a good day for the people of Taiwan, for the forces of democracy around the world, and for peace and stability in the western Pacific. I will do all that I can to support Taiwan's democracy in the years ahead," he said.
MESSAGE TO CHINA
"I hope the People's Republic of China responds to this election in a positive, constructive, and forward-leaning way. It is important for Beijing to demonstrate to the people of Taiwan that the practical and non-confrontational approach that President-elect Ma promises to take toward the Mainland will be met with good faith and progress," Obama said.
"The PRC should reduce the military threat to Taiwan by drawing back the missiles it has deployed in southeast China and by other security confidence-building measures. And on issues such as Taiwan's observer status in the World Health Organization, where the health of all Chinese people is at stake, it should allow Taiwan greater international space," he said.
Turning to the US' role in the Taiwan issue, Obama said the US "should respond to Ma Ying-jeou's election by rebuilding a relationship of trust and support for Taiwan's democracy. The US should reopen blocked channels of communication with Taiwan officials. We should continue to provide the arms necessary for Taiwan to deter possible aggression. And we should encourage both Taipei and Beijing to build commercial, cultural, and other ties, laying the groundwork for a closer relationship and ultimately movement toward resolution of their differences."
Obama also said the US should maintain its "one China" policy, adherence to the three US-PRC Joint Communiques concerning Taiwan and observance of the Taiwan Relations Act.
MCCAIN'S STATEMENT
McCain, one of the leading supporters of Taiwan in the Senate, said "once again we are witnessing the peaceful transfer of political power from one government to another based on ballots in an election that was free and fair."
"The vigorous campaigning of Ma Ying-jeou of the KMT [Chinese Nationalist Party] and the DPP's [Democratic Progressive Party's] Frank Hsieh are testimony to the press freedoms, democratic process and the rule of law that the Taiwanese people have worked so hard to build," he said.
"Taiwan's election is a fine example for the region," McCain said.
Also, in an appearance on Wednesday before the Los Angeles World Affairs Council, McCain said: "It's pretty clear that the people of Taiwan, the voters, have opted for closer relations with China and many have, to some degree, defused what might have been a bit of a crisis between Taiwan and the mainland [sic]."
"I respect that and frankly agree with it. But I most of all respect a very democratic decision made by the people of Taiwan," McCain said.
Clinton, in a statement on Tuesday, said that Taiwan's democratic achievements "have earned them the admiration of the entire international community."
"The friendship between the people of Taiwan and the United States has remained deep as democracy on Taiwan has strengthened," she said.
"I hope that under President Ma's capable leadership, Taiwan's political institutions will thrive, and that ways can be found to appropriately expand Taiwan's contributions to the international community," she said.
Clinton also expressed the hope that "cross-Strait dialogue will be possible, and will contribute significantly to a reduction of tensions in the Taiwan Straits [sic] and East Asia."
‘DENIAL DEFENSE’: The US would increase its military presence with uncrewed ships, and submarines, while boosting defense in the Indo-Pacific, a Pete Hegseth memo said The US is reorienting its military strategy to focus primarily on deterring a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, a memo signed by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth showed. The memo also called on Taiwan to increase its defense spending. The document, known as the “Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance,” was distributed this month and detailed the national defense plans of US President Donald Trump’s administration, an article in the Washington Post said on Saturday. It outlines how the US can prepare for a potential war with China and defend itself from threats in the “near abroad,” including Greenland and the Panama
A wild live dugong was found in Taiwan for the first time in 88 years, after it was accidentally caught by a fisher’s net on Tuesday in Yilan County’s Fenniaolin (粉鳥林). This is the first sighting of the species in Taiwan since 1937, having already been considered “extinct” in the country and considered as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. A fisher surnamed Chen (陳) went to Fenniaolin to collect the fish in his netting, but instead caught a 3m long, 500kg dugong. The fisher released the animal back into the wild, not realizing it was an endangered species at
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is maintaining close ties with Beijing, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said yesterday, hours after a new round of Chinese military drills in the Taiwan Strait began. Political parties in a democracy have a responsibility to be loyal to the nation and defend its sovereignty, DPP spokesman Justin Wu (吳崢) told a news conference in Taipei. His comments came hours after Beijing announced via Chinese state media that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command was holding large-scale drills simulating a multi-pronged attack on Taiwan. Contrary to the KMT’s claims that it is staunchly anti-communist, KMT Deputy
The High Prosecutors’ Office yesterday withdrew an appeal against the acquittal of a former bank manager 22 years after his death, marking Taiwan’s first instance of prosecutors rendering posthumous justice to a wrongfully convicted defendant. Chu Ching-en (諸慶恩) — formerly a manager at the Taipei branch of BNP Paribas — was in 1999 accused by Weng Mao-chung (翁茂鍾), then-president of Chia Her Industrial Co, of forging a request for a fixed deposit of US$10 million by I-Hwa Industrial Co, a subsidiary of Chia Her, which was used as collateral. Chu was ruled not guilty in the first trial, but was found guilty
RSS