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Taiwan still needs U.S. to supply weapons: envoy

ROC Central News Agency

2009/08/21 20:40:57

By Hwang Jaw-pyng and Sofia Wu

Chicago, Aug. 20 (CNA) Taiwan needs the United States to continue supplying it defensive weapons to beef up its strength as it engages and negotiates with China, the country's top representative to the United States said here Thursday.

Speaking at a luncheon organized by the National Strategy Forum (NSF), a Chicago-based non-partisan think tank, Jason Yuan said U.S.

President Barack Obama will follow the Taiwan policy adopted by his predecessor, George W. Bush, of providing Taiwan with necessary assistance.

According to the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), the United States is obligated to continue providing Taiwan with adequate military arsenals to safeguard its national security.

With President Ma Ying-jeou actively improving relations with China since taking office last year, Yuan said the Taiwan Strait is no longer a potential flashpoint, a development that is in the U.S.

interest.

Nevertheless, Taiwan still needs to reinforce its military muscle to strengthen its position in negotiations with China, Yuan told an audience of nearly 50 elite members of political, economic and academic communities in the Chicago area.

Yuan said he is convinced that the United States will honor its commitment to furnish Taiwan with needed military hardware and services in accordance with the TRA, a U.S. law.

With cross-strait ties warming up, Yuan said Taiwan has managed to attend this year's World Health Assembly -- the decision-making arm of the World Health Organization -- as an observer and sign the World Trade Organization-affiliated Government Procurement Agreement to facilitate expansion of commercial exchanges with other countries.

Responding to questions raised by participants on the latest cross-strait situation, Yuan said cross-strait negotiations are now focusing on topics related to people's livelihood.

As political systems on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait remain far different, Yuan said, bilateral negotiations on political topics will be shelved for the time being.

Postponing solutions to those issues to the future is the view shared by a majority of Taiwan people, Yuan said.

He assured the audience that in its engagements with China, Taiwan will pursue a Taipei-Washington-Beijing "win-win-win" scenario on the basis of common interests.

Stressing that the United States is Taiwan's most important ally, Yuan said both countries share the same beliefs in a democratic and liberal political system.

Yuan said his office has often invited friends from many U.S.

social circles to visit Taiwan to enhance their understanding of and support for Taiwan.

On the devastation Taiwan suffered from Typhoon Morakot, Yuan said Taiwan appreciated the assistance offered by the United States and some 70 other countries. Such aid indicated Taiwan is not alone in the international community, he added.

The luncheon meeting was chaired by NSF President Richard Friedman. Among the audience were Chicago Vice Mayor Bernard Stone and political science professors from the University of Chicago, Loyola University and DePaul University.