Six US House of Representatives members expressed support for Taiwan’s South China Sea initiatives, including a peace proposal and efforts to make Itu Aba Island (Taiping Island, 太平島) a hub for humanitarian assistance and scientific research.
US Representative Donald Payne on Tuesday said Taiwan was willing to work with other parties to ensure peace and stability in the region, uphold the freedom of navigation and overflight and conserve and develop resources in the region.
He also said that Itu Aba, the largest natural, self-sustainable islet in the Spratly Islands (Nansha Islands, 南沙群島) region, qualifies as an island under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
“Taiwan has set up a hospital in Taiping Island,” he said.
“Over the past decade, this hospital has offered humanitarian assistance to 21 people in 20 cases, including 12 Philippine and Myanmar nationals, which fully demonstrates Taiwan’s dedication to humanitarianism,” he said.
Payne’s views were backed by other members of the US Congress.
US Representative Scott DesJarlais noted the South China Sea peace initiative proposed by President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) in May, which reiterates Taiwan’s position of shelving disputes and promoting joint resource development in the contested waters — to which Taiwan lays claim — and Taiwan’s inauguration of a newly constructed lighthouse and renovated wharf on Itu Aba this month.
“This infrastructure project will support free and safe passage of ships through the surrounding waters, further enabling Taiwan to offer humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and emergency rescue support to passing vessels,” DesJarlais said.
US Representative Sheila Jackson Lee and Representative Mike Bishop shared similar views and lauded Taiwan’s efforts to promote peace and stability in the South China Sea.
In addition to praising Taiwan’s initiatives in the South China Sea, US House Committee on Foreign Affairs Chairman Matt Salmon in a statement on Thursday praised the agreement between Taiwan and the Philippines on fisheries law.
US Armed Services Committee ranking member Madeleine Bordallo said that she appreciated Ma’s work to develop Itu Aba Island as a location for joint scientific research.
“The recent upgrades to facilities on Taiping Island will help to further facilitate the island as a location where the US and Taiwan can better coordinate scientific research on climate change and other ocean issues in the South China Sea,” she said.
Taiwan’s representative office in the US said the remarks shows US Congress support Taiwan as a peacemaker in the South China Sea.
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