U.S. House reaffirms support for Taiwan as Tsai set to take power
ROC Central News Agency
2016/05/17 11:12:16
Washington, May 16 (CNA) The U.S. House of Representatives on Monday unanimously passed a concurrent resolution in support of Taiwan, reaffirming the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances as "the cornerstone of U.S.-Taiwan relations".
It was the first time that the Six Assurances appeared in written form in a resolution passed by the U.S. Congress, in a bid to convey Washington's long-term firm support for Taiwan on the eve of President-elect Tsai Ing-wen's (蔡英文) inauguration on May 20.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee first passed the measure -- House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) 88 proposed by Congressman Steve Chabot (R-OH) -- on April 20, and it was passed unanimously in the House on Monday.
The Taiwan Relations Act, enacted in April 1979, was conceived to promote commercial, cultural and other unofficial relations between Taiwan and the United States in the absence of diplomatic ties between them.
It also states that U.S. policy is to provide Taiwan with defensive arms to maintain the capacity to resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security, or the social or economic system, of the people on Taiwan.
In 1982, President Ronald Reagan wanted to reinforce United States support for Taiwan and issued the Six Assurances.
The Six Assurances stipulate that the United States will not: set a date for termination of arms sales to Taiwan; alter the terms of the Taiwan Relations Act; consult with China before making decisions about U.S. arms sales to Taiwan; mediate between Taiwan and China; alter its position on the sovereignty of Taiwan; or formally recognize Chinese sovereignty over Taiwan.
The concurrent resolution conveys the views of Congress and will not be sent to the White House, nor is it legally binding.
(By Rita Cheng and Lilian Wu)
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