Taiwan Relations Act, Six Assurances reaffirmed as US policy toward Taiwan

2016/05/04

The Taiwan Relations Act and Six Assurances were reaffirmed as the U.S. policy toward Taiwan April 28 with the passage of S.1635 Department of State Operations Authorization and Embassy Security Act, Fiscal Year 2016, by the U.S. Senate.

Title I, Section 117 of the bill states that it is the “sense of the Congress that the U.S. policy toward Taiwan is based upon the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances and that provision of defensive weapons to Taiwan should continue as mandated in the Taiwan Relations Act and enhanced trade relations with Taiwan should be pursued to mutually benefit the citizens of both countries.”

The act follows resolutions by the House of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs Committee April 20 and the Republican National Committee during its spring meeting April 20-23, reiterating the TRA and Six Assurances as the cornerstone of Taiwan-U.S. relations.

In response, Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S.—the organization responsible for representing Taiwan’s interests in the U.S.—said it was grateful for the strong vote of confidence by U.S. Congress and Republican Party in the TRA and Six Assurances. “The series of supporting actions by the U.S. Congress and Republican National Committee demonstrates that Taiwan-U.S. relations are at their highest level since enactment of the TRA.”

Signed into law in 1979 following the switch of recognition from Taipei to Beijing by the U.S., the TRA authorizes the continuation of substantive relations between the people of the U.S. and the people on Taiwan in the absence of diplomatic ties between them, as well as to help maintain peace, security and stability in the western Pacific.

Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan issued the Six Assurances in 1982, stipulating that the U.S. would not set a date for termination of arms sales to Taiwan; alter the terms of the TRA; consult with mainland China in advance before making decisions about U.S. arms sales to Taiwan; mediate between Taiwan and mainland China; alter its position about the sovereignty of Taiwan and pressure Taiwan to enter into negotiations with mainland China; and formally recognize mainland Chinese sovereignty over Taiwan.

Taiwan and the U.S. share such common values as freedom, democracy, respect for human rights, rule of law and a market-based economy. Over the past decades, both sides have enjoyed a robust relationship spanning commerce, culture and other areas of mutual interest.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=244348&ctNode=2194&mp=9)