Taiwan's cozy friendship with China in recent times have caused Obama to skip Taiwan in his pivot-to-Asia tour couple weeks ago ? It seems like Taiwan's feeling hurt for not being visited by Obama, nor getting mentioned while Obama was in Japan or the Philippines.
Taiwan's indignant response to Obama's cold shoulder?
There is serious potential for the East China Sea and the South China Sea situations to flare up into an armed conflict. The U.S. has launched its rebalance in response, strengthening its relations with friends and allies in the region. Taiwanese were reassured by evidence of the strength of this rebalance in President Obama’s recent tour to Asia. And because of the TRA, we know well that Taiwan will not be left out in the strategic design of rebalance.
The Taiwanese people would also like to express their wholehearted appreciation of the U.S. Congress’ reaffirmation of the TRA, under the leadership of Chairman Edward Royce, by the passage of H.R. 3470, and the act of making available to Taiwan four frigates. We also appreciate Congress’ relentless support of Taiwan’s international participation as well as participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
And we in Taiwan do need the United States’ continued support. In the past few years, the military threat against Taiwan has intensified despite some effort in reducing tension and hostility. American friends, who used to support Taiwan’s economic integration with our giant neighbor, have started to caution us regarding the problem of over-dependence on China and the need for diversification.
The best way Taiwan can give full thanks to the United States on this 35th anniversary of the TRA is to stand shoulder to shoulder with the U.S. and our friends in the region to build the peace.
For 35 years now, Taiwan has depended on our great friends in the United States to be the guarantors of our security and freedom. Now Taiwan needs to give back as much as possible and become an integral part of the U.S. effort to keep the peace and prosperity of our region firmly in place. We are committed to being such a partner — spending on a defense that deters any miscalculation by others about our resolve and abilities, as well as offering our resources to help build the budding security and economic architecture in the region.
The Taiwan Relations Act is the blueprint for a strong Taiwan-U.S. partnership, and we in Taiwan need to have the United States’ interest in mind in our strategic calculation to make Taiwan a worthy partner of America. In line with the words and the spirit of the TRA, here are some of the ways for Taiwan to move forward, especially when Taiwan goes through another round of peaceful transfer of power in less than two years.
South China Sea issue: Taiwan should make it clear that it follows the UN Convention on the Law of Sea, article 121 specifically, in defining its territorial claims based on the actual ownership of Itu Aba (Taiping islet) and adheres to the principle of the freedom of navigation; Taiwan should also make it very clear that it will not cooperate with China on the sovereignty issue against any other claimants.
Economic diversification: Taiwan should avoid economic dependence on China by diversifying its investment and trade portfolios and by immediate actions in structural reform, streamlining bureaucratic procedures, as well as simplifying legal infrastructure to prepare for more FTAs and TPP negotiations. These should be immediate and effective actions, not just talk, in seeking integration with fellow market economies.
We are facing a new and uncertain environment in the Asia Pacific, and this holds dangers for Taiwan, the U.S., and its friends and allies in the region. Together we can ensure a peaceful and stable regional environment. We in Taiwan are very grateful to those friends who had the foresight to legislate the TRA as the basis of our strong partnership and to current members of Congress for their reaffirmation of the Taiwan Relations Act as the cornerstone of Taiwan-U.S. relations.
We pledge to continue to work together to keep in the peace.
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