Ma praises Taiwan-US relations

2015/08/17

President Ma Ying-jeou said Aug. 13 that the government’s low-key, surprise-free approach to Taiwan-U.S. ties has boosted bilateral collaboration and paid handsome dividends for both sides across an array of areas.

“Since I took office in May 2008, this approach saw Taipei-Washington exchanges advance to their highest level in 36 years,” Ma said. “This is underscored by Taiwan’s description as a vital security and economic partner of the U.S. in Asia by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, his predecessor Hillary Clinton and Susan Thornton, deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs.”

Ma made the remarks while receiving U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton at the Presidential Office in Taipei City.

According to the president, another benefit of strong bilateral relations is support from U.S. Congress for expanded two-way military exchanges. “House and Senate committees both passed amendments calling for Taiwan’s participation in the Rim of the Pacific Exercise and Red Flag air combat exercise,” he said.

In terms of trade and economic ties, Ma said Taiwan became the 10th largest trading partner of the U.S. in 2014, while the U.S. replaced Japan as Taiwan’s second largest partner. He hopes to see Taipei and Washington fast-track a bilateral investment agreement to further bolster this aspect of the relationship.

The president also said Taiwan is committed to taking part in the Trans-Pacific Partnership given that negotiating members of the multilateral pact account for 35 percent of Taiwan’s foreign trade.

Concerning cross-strait relations, Ma believes they are at their most peaceful state in 66 years, and expects Taiwan and mainland China to continue expanding cultural, economic and people-to-people exchanges.

The stability stemming from this healthy state of affairs has enabled Taiwan to improve ties with its neighbors and tackle longstanding issues using the East China Sea Peace Initiative. “We have resolved fisheries disputes with Japan and the Philippines, and view this model as having applications in other parts of the world like the South China Sea.”

In response, Cotton said Taiwan is an important partner of the U.S., with the two sharing core values such as democracy, equality, freedom and the rule of law. He also commended the East China Sea Peace Initiative in promoting regional stability and helping create a global security mechanism.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=233818&ctNode=413)