AIT director says keeping status quo good for Taiwan, Indo-Pacific
ROC Central News Agency
10/02/2023 03:40 PM
Taipei, Oct. 2 (CNA) The de facto American ambassador to Taiwan has said Washington believes maintaining the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, though somewhat "ambiguous" and "uncomfortable" for Taipei, is good for peace and stability in Taiwan and throughout the Indo-Pacific region.
Sandra Oudkirk, director of the American Institute in Taiwan's (AIT) Taipei office, made the comments on an online talk show that aired on Sunday when asked by the host why the United States does not reestablish diplomatic relations with Taiwan, officially named the Republic of China (ROC).
Washington ended official diplomatic ties with the ROC in 1979 and switched recognition to the People's Republic of China.
Following the switch, the U.S. Congress passed the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, which provides the legal basis for the unofficial relationship between the U.S. and Taiwan, and enshrines the U.S. commitment to assist Taiwan in maintaining its self-defense capability.
The AIT was later formed to represent U.S interests in Taiwan in the absence of official diplomatic ties. It is headquartered in Virginia but has a main office in Taipei and a branch office in Kaohsiung. Its Taipei director serves as the top U.S. envoy to Taiwan while its chair serves more of a ceremonial role.
In answering the question, Oudkirk said she understood why many in Taiwan wondered about the issue of diplomatic recognition.
She began by reiterating the U.S.' long-standing one-China policy based on the Taiwan Relations Act, as well as the three joint communiques and the six assurances, which form the foundation of the U.S.' current "One-China" policy.
Oudkirk admitted that the so-called status quo "is an ambiguous situation for Taiwan."
"But it's a situation that has enabled decades of positive economic growth, improvement in sort of people's standard of living, and ability for Taiwan to become just a world-beating tech powerhouse," she said.
The envoy added that maintaining the status quo has done a lot of good for Taiwan, "even though in some ways it can feel a bit uncomfortable," and she knows that people would like more "clarity" on the Washington part.
"The status quo, the United States believes, is a way to maintain peace, stability, and prosperity, not just in Taiwan, but throughout the region. And because Taiwan is such an important economic player, stability and economic growth here means stability and economic growth throughout the world," she concluded.
Meanwhile, she reiterated the U.S.' commitment to help Taiwan to defend itself.
"And arms sales and other support is predicated on being sort of proportionate or responsive to the threat that Taiwan faces."
"We do think, though, that the first responsibility for defense is self-defense. Taiwan needs to show that it can defend itself. And I think Taiwan is really working toward that aim.
"Taiwan has a professional, well-resourced, well-supported military that does a very good job operating complex systems, the same systems in many cases that are in the U.S. arsenal," she said.
Oudkirk also disclosed that her daughter is in fact currently serving in the U.S. Army and her family are proud of her daughter.
"And I think it's important. Because it's a way to give back to your community. The United States has been very very good to my family and we are a part of preserving the freedoms and the lifestyle that Americans enjoy."
She further said it is important for a society to embrace its armed forces so that one can have a close cooperation between civilians and the military.
"When society embraces the armed forces you can have society and the military working together in mutually complementary ways to protect institutions, to protect your way of life, and you know Taiwan has a wonderful way of life," she added.
When asked to comment on American "skepticism" narratives currently circulating in Taiwan, Oudkirk said she believes skepticism is actually "the sign of a strong democracy."
"The ability to question governments, officials, authorities means that you have freedom of speech, you have freedom of thought," she said, adding that she encourages people who are curious about the U.S. policies to ask them questions "because you only get full understanding if you ask questions."
She also said AIT has full respect for TV talk shows and political commentators having opinions concerning the U.S. policy toward Taiwan.
"So if someone goes up and they pronounce this news a fact that is incorrect, we will work to correct the record. If someone says we don't think that's the best choice, we think something else might be better, that's their opinion. And so we don't try to correct people's opinions."
The AIT also regularly engages with local leaders and provides the opportunity to ask questions, she said.
Oudkirk took office as AIT Taipei director in July, 2021, succeeding Brent Christensen.
The seasoned diplomat previously served as a consular officer at the AIT from 1992 to 1994.
(By Joseph Yeh)
Enditem/ASG
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