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DPP thanks U.S. for long-term support of Taiwan

ROC Central News Agency

2016/05/04 23:14:42

Taipei, May 4 (CNA) The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) on Wednesday said it was very appreciative of the United States' long-term support of Taiwan in various areas, including participation in the World Health Assembly (WHA).

Taiwan has been invited to attend the WHA as an observer every year since 2009, the year after President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) of the Kuomintang was inaugurated.

This year, however, Taiwan has not yet received an invitation to participate in the annual meeting of the World Health Organization's decision-making body May 23-28 in Geneva and there have been concerns that Beijing may be trying to block the invitation as the DPP is about to take over the reins of power from the China-friendly KMT on May 20.

DPP spokesman Ruan Jhao-syong (阮昭雄), expressing thanks to the U.S. for its support over the years, was responding to remarks by Susan A. Thornton, U.S. principal deputy assistant secretary of state in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs in an interview with CNA in Washington on Monday (EDT).

Thornton said it has always been the U.S.' policy to support Taiwan's meaningful participation in organizations that require statehood and to advocate for its membership in those organizations that do not require statehood.

"It is a challenge and we are going to continue to work on that, I think," she said.

On the WHA issue, Thornton said "I know we're working on that. I don't have a reason to expect that it will be different from previous years yet, but we'll have to see."

Thornton also praised President-elect Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) for her consistent public commitment to pushing forward the potential of Taiwan in the world, her commitment to maintaining the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, and continuing a peaceful, stable relationship with China. The U.S. official also commended Tsai as "having done a very good job of having the words and the deeds come together."

She said the U.S. hopes Tsai in her inaugural speech will talk about how "she sees Taiwan's development potential going forward, what kinds of positive vision she has for developing cross-strait ties, and also how to further develop, of course, the U.S.-Taiwan partnership."

With regard to Taiwan's attempt to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), Thornton said the U.S. "welcomed Taiwan's interest in the TPP agreement and understands why it's important for Taiwan to look at that."

"But we'll certainly continue talking to Taiwan about the various areas of the TPP that would need to be worked on through our TIFA (Trade and Investment Framework Agreement) process with Taiwan to get us over the hump," she added.

Ruan said that joining the TPP is not only an expectation of all Taiwanese people but also a goal of the government.

As important partners to each other, Taiwan and the U.S. should enhance their cooperation in trade and economic exchanges, he said. (Sophia Yeh and Bear Lee)

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