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U.S. stance on Taiwan unchanged after Obama-Xi summit: envoy

ROC Central News Agency

2013/06/18 11:14:08

Washington, June 17 (CNA) Taiwan's representative to the United States said Monday that the U.S.'s stance toward Taiwan remains unchanged following President Barack Obama's meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping earlier this month.

King Pu-tsung said the United States remains committed to providing Taiwan with defensive weapons as necessary as stipulated in the Taiwan Relations Act, enacted in 1979 when Washington and Taipei severed diplomatic ties.

According to a briefing on the meeting given Taiwan by U.S. officials, the Chinese side raised the issue of Taiwan as it often does, King said.

But the U.S. stance on the matter was firm, and Obama stated clearly from the beginning that the U.S. would provide Taiwan with necessary defensive weapons.

The U.S. also said it was happy to see the two sides of the Taiwan Strait continue to engage in peaceful dialogue and move toward mutually beneficial development.

In addition, it hoped that the Taiwan issue could be decided by both sides, especially by the 23 million people on Taiwan, according to King's account of the briefing.

King said the most important aspect of the Obama-Xi summit was that it did not change Washington's stance on Taiwan.

Taiwan's de facto ambassador to the U.S. was also asked about China's advocacy of building "a new model of major country relationship" with the United States.

"As long as it does not undermine the interests of the Republic of China, we are happy to see them further develop better relations," King said.

King was speaking on the sidelines of a ceremony at which Taiwan and Maryland agreed to mutually recognize each other's driver's licenses.

Effective immediately, Taiwanese who have legal resident status in Maryland can obtain a Maryland driver's license without taking the requisite tests.

Americans who have a Maryland driver's license can enjoy the same treatment in Taiwan.

(By Lin Shu-yuan and Lilian Wu)