On Oct. 6, the Council of Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan passed two resolutions proposed by the Kuomintang (KMT) party, calling for U.S. military aid and the resumption of diplomatic relations between the United States and Taiwan in order to counter the Chinese regime’s aggression.
During a meeting on the budget for the “Forward-looking Infrastructure Design Phase 3” in the Legislative Yuan on Oct. 6, the KMT proposed two resolutions. The first urged the government to “request the U.S. to help resist the CCP,” while the second called for the “resumption of diplomatic relations between Taiwan and the U.S.,” Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA) reported. Taiwan’s Executive Yuan President Su Zhenchang and the heads of relevant ministries and committees attended the meeting as non-voting delegates.
Resolution to Call for US Assistance in Combating the CCP’s Aggression
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China, is a de-facto nation state with its own democratically-elected government, military, and currency. However, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) considers the self-ruled island as part of China’s territory and has threatened to use military force to bring it under its control.Resolution to Resume Diplomatic Relations Between Taiwan and the US
The other resolution called on the ruling Democratic Progressive Party to actively resume diplomatic relations between Taiwan and the United States.- Washington’s announcement of multiple arms sales to Taiwan;
- the passage of U.S. bills, such as the Taiwan Travel Act, the TAIPEI Act, and the Taiwan Assurance Act of 2019;
- the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Kelly Craft, called for Taiwan’s full participation at the U.N.;
- U.S. Congressman Tom Tiffany introduced a bill calling on the United States to resume formal relations with Taiwan, while dropping the ‘one-China policy’;
- visits by high-level U.S. officials such as Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and the Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, Keith Krach.
The Kuomintang issued a statement in its press release in the afternoon of Oct. 6, saying that “maintaining cross-strait peace,” “promoting the normalization of relations with the United States,” and “restoring diplomatic relations between the Republic of China and the United States” have always been the goals and major policies of the Kuomintang, whether in power or in opposition.
Taiwan Presidential Office spokesperson Zhang Dunhan responded to the passage of the resolutions. He said that the most important thing for Taiwan-U.S. relations at this stage is to take it “one step at a time” and to continue cooperation in various fields such as national defense, economy and trade, and politics.
He added, “As long as the direction is right and the steps are solid, the relations between Taiwan and the United States will go more steadily and long-term.”