Any unprovoked attack on Taiwan would result in a “resolute reaction” from Washington, US Representative Rob Wittman said during a visit to Taipei yesterday, adding that the US is working on expediting arms sales to the nation.
Wittman, a Republican who serves as vice chairman of the US House of Representatives Committee on Armed Services, told President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) at the Presidential Office that the US would do “everything possible” to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, and that it was committed to building and projecting the strength of the region.
“Strength is the best deterrence to anyone that may think there’s an opportunity to act badly in this region,” said Wittman, who arrived in Taiwan on Thursday.
Photo: CNA
“Any hostile, unprovoked attack on Taiwan will result in a resolute reaction from the United States,” he said, while acknowledging Taiwan’s efforts to enhance its self-defense capabilities, such as extending compulsory military service to one year.
The US has “an obligation” to ensure that it addresses the US$19 billion backlog of arms deliveries to Taiwan, which cross-party members of the House have been working on, he said.
Wittman said he believed that the “deep and long-term relationship” between the US and Taiwan would continue to grow stronger, as it is based on shared values of democracy, the rule of law, and technological and economic development.
The ties have earned bipartisan support in the US Congress, he said, calling on both sides to pursue closer economic cooperation through mutual investment.
Tsai thanked Wittman and other delegation members for their support and attention to Taiwan’s security through concrete actions such as promoting pro-Taiwan legislation in the US Congress every year.
They helped ensure that the National Defense Authorization Act continues to include policy initiatives that bolster Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities and deepen Taiwan-US security cooperation, Tsai said.
In the face of authoritarian expansionism, the unity and cooperation of democratic partners is even more important, she said.
Taiwan will continue to work with the US and other democratic allies to protect regional stability and prosperity, she added.
She also thanked the US Congress for passing the first agreement under the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade, which could deepen economic and trade ties between Taiwan and the US.
The next step toward closer industrial cooperation would be to eliminate double taxation between the two nations, which Tsai hoped US lawmakers would support.
Wittman is visiting Taiwan with two other committee members: US representatives Jen Kiggans and Carlos Gimenez. It is the second visit by senior committee officials following committee Chairman Mike Rogers’ trip in June, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday.
US representatives Alex Mooney and Michael Cloud are also in Taiwan.
All five lawmakers are members of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus and have displayed their firm support for the nation by proposing legislation and issuing statements, Presidential Office spokeswoman Olivia Lin (林聿禪) said.
Additional reporting by AFP
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
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
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old