U.S. arms sales to Taiwan not on Biden's agenda in China: Ma
ROC Central News Agency
2011/08/17 13:33:52
Taipei, Aug. 17 (CNA) President Ma Ying-jeou said Wednesday that the United States has reaffirmed its commitments to Taiwan, particularly its pledge not to consult China on arms sales to Taiwan, ahead of Vice President Joe Biden's current visit to Beijing.
"Our U.S. friends told us ahead of Biden's Asian trip that U.S. commitments to Taiwan will remain unchanged, in particular its assurance of no talks with China on arms sales to Taiwan," Ma said while receiving a U.S. congressional delegation.
"They assured us that the U.S. Six Assurances remain valid and viable," he told members of the delegation of the United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC).
The U.S. made "Six Assurances" to Taiwan in 1982, including that the U.S. would not set a date for termination of arms sales to Taiwan; would not alter the terms of the Taiwan Relations Act; and would not consult China before making decisions about U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.
The USCC was created in 2000 to monitor, investigate, and submit to Congress an annual report on the security implications of the U.S.-China trade and economic relationship and to provide recommendations for legislative and administrative action.
Ma said he appreciated the USCC's work as it recognized the improvement in relations across the Taiwan Strait and pushed for closer U.S.-Taiwan exchanges in trade and other fields in its 2010 report.
Noting that the U.S. is Taiwan's most important ally, Ma said the two countries have maintained extensive economic, educational and security and defense cooperation.
The U.S. Congress should also be credited for its passage of the Taiwan Relations Act in 1979 because the act has not only helped guarantee Taiwan's security but has also ensured that the two countries can engage in a secure environment, Ma said.
He cautioned, however, that the cross-Taiwan Strait military balance has long begun to tilt in favor of the Chinese mainland due to its continued military buildup.
Ma said Taiwan has on many occasions expressed its desire to procure advanced F-16 C/D jet fighters from the U.S. to help update its aerial arsenal. Two years ago, Taiwan also came up with programs to upgrade its existing F-16 A/B fleet and procure diesel-electric submarines to beef up the country's defense capabilities.
"All of these arms procurement projects comply with three principles -- they are for defensive purposes, unlikely to be produced at home and to replace aging equipment rather to engage in an arms race with the mainland," Ma stressed.
During the meeting, Ma also expressed Taiwan's desire to be included in the U.S. visa waiver project.
To meet the U.S. homeland security requirements, Ma said, Taiwan began implementing an in-person passport application system from July 1.
"The program has proceeded smoothly," Ma said, adding that Taiwan's U.S. visa rejection rate already fell below 3 percent last year.
To date, 117 countries or regions around the world have granted visa-free or landing visa privileges to Taiwanese passport holders, Ma said.
With Taiwanese citizens making more than 410,000 visits to the U.S. annually, Ma said, Taiwan hopes the U.S. will grant its people visa waiver treatment as soon as possible.
Ma also told his American guests that the number of Taiwanese visitors to Britain and other European Union countries has increased substantially since they offered Taiwanese passport holders visa-free privileges. (By Kelven Huang and Sofia Wu) enditem/ls
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