Laura Rosenberg, chair of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), the US embassy on the island, stated Tuesday that Washington would maintain its “commitment to supporting Taiwan’s self-defence capabilities.”
“The United States reiterates our long-standing commitments to enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability. As you know, we are seizing upon the full range of tools authorised by Congress, and will continue to do so.”
Rosenberg also highlighted the US commitment to “maintaining a strong unofficial relationship with Taiwan that upholds democratic values, deepens our economic ties, and supports Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the international community.”
We remain committed to our one China policy guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the three Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances. For more than 40 years, this framework has enabled the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
Rosenberg, who has chaired the institute since March 20, is a member of a US delegation visiting Taiwan after Saturday’s presidential and legislative elections. The MTA chair accompanied former National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley and former Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg, who left Taiwan Tuesday morning, a day after meeting with President-elect William Lai (Lai Ching-te), as well as with incumbent President Tsai Ing-wen and the opposition.
Beijing denounced the US delegation’s visit to the island, declaring that “anyone in the international community who violates the one-China principle is interfering in China’s internal affairs and infringing upon China’s sovereignty, and will face the joint opposition of the Chinese people and the international community.” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated on Monday:
“The elections in Taiwan are the affairs of a region in China. China firmly opposes the US having any form of official interaction with Taiwan and interfering in Taiwan affairs in any way or under any pretext.”
Taiwan has been governed independently since 1949. On Saturday, the island held its eighth presidential election, which Lai won with 40 per cent of the vote.
