She is Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and emphasized in her remarks that “Taiwan remains a great beacon of democracy in East Asia and an important strategic ally in a key region of the world. This is the first such hearing on Taiwan in seven years but, under my Chairmanship, it won’t be the last.”
Ros-Lehtinen recognized and thanked the Taiwanese community in the U.S. for their outstanding contributions in a wide range of areas including medicine, engineering, education, science, and the arts.
June 16 Hearing on U.S-Taiwan Relations
Her scheduled hearing on June 16 will focus on U.S-Taiwan relations, Implementation of the Taiwan Relations Act, and the future of Taiwan’s democracy.
“One of the reasons we will be holding this hearing is that I am deeply concerned for Taiwan’s future, as it tries to cope with a rising China. I am also increasingly troubled about recent trends in U.S.-Taiwan relations, trends which suggest, as one scholar writes, ‘a marked decline in U.S. support for the island’s freedom of action.’ Let me make one thing clear: I support the Taiwanese people and their democracy.”
She added that Taiwan has not been featured prominently in the speeches of senior administration policymakers toward Asia, nor has it been a feature of discussion in Department of Defense planning documents. And despite promises by Barak Obama as a Presidential candidate to open up communications with Taiwan, “There has yet to be a cabinet or sub-cabinet level visit to Taiwan by this administration to engage in senior-level discussions with officials in Taipei. It is stunning to contemplate that the last such visit by an American cabinet official took place nearly 11 years ago.”
Ros-Lehtinen questioned the wisdom of Washington marginalizing Taiwan and signaling to the communist leaders in Beijing a reduced commitment to Taiwan.
Missiles targeting Taiwan still growing in number
Over the years the Chinese regime has steadily increased the number of missiles targeting Taiwan from approximately 900 in 2006 to over 1,600 in 2011 and according to The Liberty Times is likely to reach 1,800 next year.
The Pentagon reported last year that China’s military build-up against Taiwan had “continued unabated” despite improving political relations since Ma Ying-jeou became Taiwan’s president in 2008 on a China-friendly, political platform. Nonetheless, Beijing refuses to withdraw the possible use of force against Taiwan should it declare formal independence.
“Unfortunately, in the face of this challenge, Taiwan’s own defense spending continues to be relatively weak and is now less than 3% of GDP,” said Ros-Lehtinen. “It is long past due for the Executive Branch to approve the sale of new F-16C/D fighter aircraft to Taiwan.”
“Last year, the so-called named Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) between Taiwan and Mainland China was finally signed, despite concerns over growing Chinese economic influence on the island,” she said. “Like the Trojan horse which allowed the Greek invaders to penetrate the inner walls of Troy, this agreement may well prove to be a political tool that masquerades as a trade instrument to achieve China’s ultimate goal of absorbing Taiwan.”
Next...Suggested Actions to Strengthen US-Taiwan Relations
Suggested Actions to Strengthen U.S.-Taiwan Relations
Ros-Lehtinen voiced support for strengthening economic and people-to-people relations by first granting the admission of Taiwan into America’s Visa Waiver Program. This program enables nationals of 36 participating countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa.
Secondly, she recommends the resumption and successful conclusion of negotiations in the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) talks with Taiwan.
Thirdly, she said the U.S. should move forward with negotiations on a Bilateral Investment Agreement and Bilateral Tax Agreement as building blocks for an eventual free trade agreement (FTA) with Taiwan.
She said that studies by the U.S. International Trade Commission show that U.S. exports to Taiwan would grow at a rate of approximately 16% per year if a US-Taiwan FTA were enacted.
Taiwan is still a democracy that supports a free market, the rule of law and human rights that provides a stable environment for U.S. investment and business opportunities in Asia.
“It is a sad fact that most countries refrain from a FTA with Taiwan out of fear of China’s reprisals,” she said. “The Taiwanese workforce and economy are increasingly left out and negatively impacted due to this isolation.”
The Congresswoman emphasized that a U.S.-Taiwan FTA will help Taiwan break out of its international isolation and help halt China’s growing economic and political leverage over Taiwan.
“It is strongly in America’s national interest to reenergize and upgrade relations between our two peoples and our two great democracies,” she said. “In my capacity as Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I hope to do just that in the weeks and months ahead.”
