Taiwan welcomes support from US Republican Party

2016/07/22

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan) thanked the U.S. Republican Party for reiterating its support for Taiwan in the platform adopted at the party’s 2016 national convention, which runs July 18-21 in Cleveland, Ohio.

“Taiwan has long enjoyed friendly relations with both the Republican Party and the Democratic Party of the U.S.,” MOFA spokeswoman Eleanor Wang said July 19. “The inclusion once again of firm and positive statements regarding Taiwan in the Republican Party platform demonstrates the great importance the party attaches to Taiwan-U.S. relations, as well as its members’ long-term support for Taiwan.”

Calling Taiwan “a loyal friend of America,” the Republican platform states Taiwan-U.S. relations will continue to be based on the Taiwan Relations Act and reaffirms the party’s support for the Six Assurances issued by U.S. President Ronald Reagan in 1982. This marked the first time the party included the Six Assurances in its platform.

The Republican Party paid tribute to the people of Taiwan for upholding the shared values of democracy, human rights, a free market economy and the rule of law. It also praised the new administration’s commitment to maintaining constructive relations across the Taiwan Strait and urged mainland China to adopt the same approach.

The platform states Taiwan merits strong U.S. support in areas such as free trade agreement status, the timely sale of defensive arms including technologies for manufacturing diesel submarines, and full participation in the World Health Organization, International Civil Aviation Organization and other multilateral bodies.

Signed into law in 1979 after the U.S. switched recognition from Taipei to Beijing, the TRA authorizes the continuation of substantive relations between the people of the U.S. and the people of Taiwan.

The Six Assurances stipulate that the U.S. will not set a date for ending arms sales to Taiwan; revise the TRA; consult with mainland China on arms sales to Taiwan; mediate between Taiwan and mainland China; alter its position on the sovereignty of Taiwan or exert pressure on Taiwan to enter into talks with mainland China; or formally recognize mainland Chinese sovereignty over Taiwan.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=246406&ctNode=2194&mp=9)