US support for Taiwan remains a “priority” for Washington, with the bilateral partnership “unaffected” by the Israel-Hamas conflict, American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Chairwoman Laura Rosenberger told a news conference in Taipei yesterday.
“In Washington, the focus on our support for Taiwan is something that is a priority” for US President Joe Biden’s administration, Rosenberger said, adding that the US government continued to work to expand its partnership with Taipei.
The partnership and the US’ commitment to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are “enduring” and “unaffected” by events elsewhere in the world, she said, alluding to conflict between Palestinian militant groups led by Hamas and Israel that began on Oct. 7.
Photo: CNA
“The United States will remain committed to supporting Taiwan,” she said, mentioning in particular Washington’s commitments to provide defensive articles and services to Taipei in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act.
Biden today is expected to announce a joint US$100 billion package for Taiwan, Ukraine and Israel.
The US government is concerned about Beijing’s “pressure and coercion campaign” aimed at Taiwan, and has raised such concern with Beijing directly in their conversations, Rosenberger said.
Maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is not only central to the security and prosperity of Taiwan, but to that of the entire world as well, she added.
Speaking of her meetings with presidential nominees from Taiwan’s three largest political parties over the past few days, Rosenberger rejected the idea that Washington was conducting job “interviews” with the contenders.
Rosenberger arrived in Taiwan on Sunday for a five-day visit and she has since met with Vice President William Lai (賴清德), the Democratic Progressive Party’s presidential nominee, New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜), the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) nominee, and Taiwan People’s Party nominee and Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲).
She said that the meetings were intended for the US to “have an understanding of the candidates’ visions for Taiwan” and for the nominees to “understand the United States’ priorities and interests.”
She declined to reveal what had been discussed at the meetings.
She reiterated that Washington would not take sides in Taiwan’s presidential election in January and that US policy toward Taiwan would be the same regardless of the outcome.
“We look forward to working with whomever Taiwan voters choose as their next leader,” Rosenberger said.
She added that while Washington was confident about Taiwan’s vibrant democracy, and free and fair election processes, it had conveyed to Beijing its opposition to outside interference or influence in the election.
Asked why she did not meet with Hon Hai Precision Industry Co (鴻海精密) founder Terry Gou (郭台銘), an independent presidential contender, Rosenberger said that “the AIT directly engages with candidates who are officially eligible, as determined by the Central Election Commission.”
Rosenberger’s visit, accompanied by Michael Pignatello, a senior consultant with the US Department of State’s Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, marked her third trip to Taiwan since assuming the post in March.
Tropical Storm Usagi strengthened to a typhoon yesterday morning and remains on track to brush past southeastern Taiwan from tomorrow to Sunday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. As of 2pm yesterday, the storm was approximately 950km east-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan proper’s southernmost point, the CWA said. It is expected to enter the Bashi Channel and then turn north, moving into waters southeast of Taiwan, it said. The agency said it could issue a sea warning in the early hours of today and a land warning in the afternoon. As of 2pm yesterday, the storm was moving at
DISCONTENT: The CCP finds positive content about the lives of the Chinese living in Taiwan threatening, as such video could upset people in China, an expert said Chinese spouses of Taiwanese who make videos about their lives in Taiwan have been facing online threats from people in China, a source said yesterday. Some young Chinese spouses of Taiwanese make videos about their lives in Taiwan, often speaking favorably about their living conditions in the nation compared with those in China, the source said. However, the videos have caught the attention of Chinese officials, causing the spouses to come under attack by Beijing’s cyberarmy, they said. “People have been messing with the YouTube channels of these Chinese spouses and have been harassing their family members back in China,”
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday said there are four weather systems in the western Pacific, with one likely to strengthen into a tropical storm and pose a threat to Taiwan. The nascent tropical storm would be named Usagi and would be the fourth storm in the western Pacific at the moment, along with Typhoon Yinxing and tropical storms Toraji and Manyi, the CWA said. It would be the first time that four tropical cyclones exist simultaneously in November, it added. Records from the meteorology agency showed that three tropical cyclones existed concurrently in January in 1968, 1991 and 1992.
UPDATED FORECAST: The warning covered areas of Pingtung County and Hengchun Peninsula, while a sea warning covering the southern Taiwan Strait was amended The Central Weather Administration (CWA) at 5:30pm yesterday issued a land warning for Typhoon Usagi as the storm approached Taiwan from the south after passing over the Philippines. As of 5pm, Usagi was 420km south-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan proper’s southernmost tip, with an average radius of 150km, the CWA said. The land warning covered areas of Pingtung County and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春), and came with an amended sea warning, updating a warning issued yesterday morning to cover the southern part of the Taiwan Strait. No local governments had announced any class or office closures as of press time last night. The typhoon
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