Two members of the US Congress have called on US President Barack Obama’s administration to resume diplomatic relations with Taiwan and to end its “one China” policy.
The largely symbolic move was made to mark the 34th anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) on April 10, 1979.
Representatives Michael McCaul and Robert Andrews submitted a “sense of Congress” resolution to the US House of Representatives on Wednesday, which has been referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
The resolution says that Taiwan has established a vibrant and pluralistic democracy and that Taiwan has never been under the jurisdiction of the People’s Republic of China government.
It argues that the Shanghai Communique, which “acknowledges” that there is “one China and that Taiwan is part of China” was established without the consultation of Congress or the people of Taiwan.
The resolution says that the “one China” policy is “effectively obsolete” and does not reflect the obvious reality that Taiwan has been an independent and sovereign country for more than half a century.
“Taiwan has been a steadfast ally of the US and a responsible and compassionate member of the world community,” the resolution reads.
“The president should abandon the fundamentally flawed ‘One China Policy’ in favor of a more realistic ‘One China, One Taiwan Policy’ that recognizes Taiwan as a sovereign and independent country separate from the Communist regime in Beijing,” the resolution reads.
“The president should begin the process of resuming normal diplomatic relations with Taiwan,” it says.
“US officials should aggressively support Taiwan’s full participation in the United Nations and any other international organization of which the US is a member, and for which statehood is a requirement for membership,” it adds.
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Former Taiwan People’s Party chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) may apply to visit home following the death of his father this morning, the Taipei Detention Center said. Ko’s father, Ko Cheng-fa (柯承發), passed away at 8:40am today at the Hsinchu branch of National Taiwan University Hospital. He was 94 years old. The center said Ko Wen-je was welcome to apply, but declined to say whether it had already received an application. The center also provides psychological counseling to people in detention as needed, it added, also declining to comment on Ko Wen-je’s mental state. Ko Wen-je is being held in detention as he awaits trial
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