Bush Visit to Asia
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~2004 ; 2005-2006
No Plans to Put Marines in
Taipei: Washington
(Taipei Times, Apr. 23, 2008) The US said that there was a “possibility” that
a barracks for US Marine security forces at the planned new American
Institute in Taiwan (AIT) headquarters in Neihu, Taipei City, may be built,
but there are no current plans to station Marines at the complex.
US may post Marines at
office in Taiwan
(AP, Apr. 20, 2008) The United States may post Marines at its unofficial
embassy in Taiwan — a small
but symbolically significant change in its delicate political relationship
with Taiwan.
US Sees 'Excellent' Ties
with Taiwan under New Leader
(AFP, Mar. 29, 2008) The head of the US representative office in Taiwan said he was confident of
"excellent" relations with its incoming president but gave no word
on whether he would be granted a Washington visit.
US Committee Backs Taiwan
Resolution
(Taipei Times, Feb. 29, 2008) The US House Committee on Foreign Affairs on
Wednesday unanimously approved a resolution applauding Taiwan's democracy and
upcoming presidential election, after the committee's new chairman, Howard
Berman of California, made it clear that in doing so, the committee is
staying out of the debate over the planned referendum on UN entry.
Report Urges U.S. to
Strengthen Taiwan Ties
(Taiwan News, Feb. 26, 2008) The United States government should develop a
more positive agenda with regard to Taiwan, including allowing high-level
routine dialogues between Taipei and Washington, in order to help Taiwan
expand its international participation and maintain regional stability, urged
a former U.S. senior official.
US State Adopts Three
Resolutions in Support of Taiwan
(Taipei Times, Jan. 31, 2008) The Indiana State Senate unanimously adopted
resolutions in support of Taiwan's bid to join the UN, the WHO and to sign a
free trade agreement with the US.
China "Great
Challenge" to US: Giuliani
(Agence France Presse, Nov. 9, 2007) US 2008 Republican front-runner Rudolph Giuliani warned that
emerging China was a
"great challenge" to the United States, and backed continued
engagement with Beijing. But
the former New York mayor also called for an increase in US military strength to deter China
from ever mounting a security challenge to America, and said he would push
Beijing faster on introducing political freedoms.
Admiral Restates U.S. Opposition to Independent Taiwan,
He Says Taipei Should Be Armed for Defense (Los Angeles Times, Aug. 22, 2007) The Navy
admiral expected to become the top U.S. military officer reiterated Tuesday
that the United States would not support a push for independence by Taiwan,
but said it will continue to urge the government in Taipei to acquire
defensive weapons to hedge against an attack by China.
US House Passes Taiwan Visit
Bill
(AFP, July 31, 2007) The US House of Representatives passed a resolution calling
for the lifting of US government curbs on visits by top Taiwanese leaders.
The United States bars travel by senior Taiwan leaders to Washington and
allows only transit stops in other U.S. cities.
U.S. Frustrated by Taiwan's
Firm Stance on Referendum
(Agence France Presse, July 11, 2007) The United States appears frustrated by
longtime ally Taiwan's defiance in wanting to hold a controversial referendum
that could draw the wrath of China. Tom Lantos, head of the House of
Representatives committee on foreign affairs, called it impractical and said
that neither the administration nor Congress were in favor of it.
U.S. to Assist Taiwan with
Anti-Trafficking Efforts
(China Post, July 6, 2007) Mark
Taylor of the U.S. State Department's Office to Monitor and Combat
Trafficking in Persons said that the U.S. is committed to assisting Taiwan's
anti-trafficking efforts by providing technical expertise.
Congress Hits Out at US Bar
on Taiwan Visits
(AFP, June 26, 2007) US
lawmakers, accusing the administration of kowtowing to China, called for an
end to restrictions on visits to the United States by high-level Taiwanese
officials.
House Approves Easing Curbs
on Taiwan Contacts
(Taipei Times, Jun 23, 2007) The US House of Representatives unanimously
passed a measure that would eliminate a long list of restrictions on contacts
between Taiwan and US officials imposed by the US Department of State that
have severely crimped communications between the two sides since Washington
recognized Beijing in 1978.
US
Official Warns of PRC Arms Buildup By Charles Snyder
(Taipei Times, Mar. 29, 2007) The US State Department's chief specialist in
Taiwan affairs says the US is "deeply concerned" over China's
military actions that threaten Taiwan and has recommitted Washington defend
Taiwan.
USS Ronald Reagan and USS
Lake Champlain Arrive in Sasebo, Japan (Navy News Stand, Feb. 24,
2007) USS Ronald Reagan and USS Lake Champlain arrived in Sasebo, Japan Feb.
23 for a scheduled port visit. Currently in the U.S. 7th Fleet’s area of
responsibility as part of a surge deployment to promote peace, cooperation
and stability in the region, the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group (CSG) is
commanded by Rear Adm. Charles W. Martoglio.
US to Urge PRC to Reduce
Threat against Taiwan
(Taipei Times, Feb. 4, 2007) Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and
Pacific Affairs at the US State Department Thomas Christensen said in written
testimony that the US would continue to put pressure on Beijing to reduce its
military threat to Taiwan and to tell Beijing frankly that the US has a strong
interest in a secure Taiwan.
AIT Chairman Says US
Relations with Taiwan Are Strong
(Taipei Times, Jan 30, 2007) Regardless of the state of Washington-Taipei,
Washington-Beijing or cross-strait ties, US-China-Taiwan relations are
stable, American Institute in Taiwan Chairman Raymond Burghardt said.
U.S. Policy on Taiwan an
'Inseparable Package': Rice
(CNA, Oct. 26, 2006) The U.S. government's policy on Taiwan is comprised of
an inseparable "package" including its commitment to help Taiwan
defend itself, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said.
Bush Sets Defense As Space
Priority
(Washington Post, Oct. 18, 2006) President Bush has signed a new National
Space Policy that rejects future arms-control agreements that might limit
U.S. flexibility in space and asserts a right to deny access to space to
anyone "hostile to U.S. interests."
Taiwan: George Bush meet Abba Eban By Alan D. Romberg
(Stimson Center, Apr. 21, 2008) Ma Ying-jeou, Taiwan’s new leader, is
committed to lowering tensions with Beijing, a long-standing U.S. objective.
But his success requires strong domestic consensus, which, in turn, depends
on open American support. Inviting Ma to Washington before his inauguration
would signify such critical backing. Instead, President Bush seems determined
to miss this unique opportunity to promote U.S. interests.
Change is Hard in Taiwan and
US By Kurt Campell
(Taipei
Times, Apr. 4, 2008) KMT’s Ma Ying-jeou was elected to be the next president
reflects a deep and profound interest in political change among the body
politic. There is a palpable sense of fatigue and dissatisfaction with the
policies of outgoing President Chen Shui-bian and a desire for a change in
direction both in policies toward China on the one hand and the US on the
other.
U.S. Won't Play Mediator in
Cross-Strait Issue: AIT Head
(China Post, Mar. 29, 2008) Although the U.S. government would be pleased to
see further improvements in cross-strait interaction, Washington will not get
involved in how both sides of the Strait determine a basis for negotiation, a
senior U.S. official said.
Report on US-Taiwan Ties
Breaks New Ground By Lai I-chung
(Taipei
Times, Mar. 1, 2008) The report Strengthening Freedom in Asia: A Twenty-First
Century Agenda for the US-Taiwan Partnership, released by the American
Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research and Armitage International,
makes a breakthrough on previous frames of thought on cross-strait policy and
employs a new model for dealing with cross-strait and US-Taiwan relations.
US, Taiwan Must Bolster
Ties: Report
(Taipei Times, Feb 24, 2008) The relationship between the US and Taiwan has
deteriorated dangerously in recent years and both sides must take a wide
range of steps to ensure Taiwan's security and "break the negative
cycle," a joint study by a conservative think tank and an international
consulting company in Washington said in a study released. The study,
sponsored by Armitage International and the American Enterprise Institute
(AEI), takes the administration of US President George W. Bush to task for
allowing US-Taiwan relations to slip, creating potential security perils for
both countries.
U.S. Should Revive Flagging
Ties with Taiwan: Study
(Reuters, Feb. 23, 2008) U.S. neglect of its traditionally close ties with Taiwan is raising the risk of a
damaging conflict as the island faces military and diplomatic pressure from China, a study warned. To defuse
mounting tensions across the Taiwan Strait, the Taiwan Policy Working Group recommended that Washington
step up official contacts with Taiwan -- dealings that have declined in
frequency and level in recent years under Chinese pressure.
Press Briefing By Dennis Wilder, National Security
Council Senior Director for Asian Affairs (The White House, Office of the Press Secretary, Aug. 30, 2007)
We are very supportive of Taiwan on many, many fronts. We have worked
hard, for example, to make sure that they are treated appropriately in APEC
as an organization, in the World Health Organization and many other
international organizations. However, membership in the United Nations
requires statehood. Taiwan, or the Republic of China, is not at this
point a state in the international community. The position of the
United States government is that the ROC -- Republic of China -- is an issue
undecided, and it has been left undecided, as you know, for many, many
years.
UN Referendum Brings
U.S.-Taiwan Relations to a New Low By Bonnie S. Glaser (PacNet, Pacific Forum, CSIS, July
23, 2007) From the U.S. perspective, Chen’s initiative violates the spirit if
not the letter of his “four no’s” pledge, enunciated in 2000 when Chen was
inaugurated as Taiwan’s first DPP president. To many Americans, it seems that
presidential politics is the driver and the impact on cross-Strait security
is given little, if any, consideration.
US Support for Taipei
Dwindling By Richard Halloran
(Taipei Times, July 15, 2007) US support for far-away
Taipei is dwindling, making it possible that Washington might not help defend
Taiwan against China. Consider the subtle change in US President George W.
Bush's stance.
Pro-Taiwan (But Not
Anti-China) By Randall Schriver
(Taipei Times, June 27, 2007) Too often, frustrated people in Taiwan will
interpret a US policy statement as being animated by a desire to curry favor
with Beijing. The truth of the matter is that US policy decisions are often
more complex than would be the case if the sole objective was to please
China. It is more accurate to acknowledge the balancing act -- how to be
pro-Taiwan, but not anti-China.
Documents Show U.S. Pressure
on Taiwan
(Associated Press, June 16, 2007) As Washington struggles to end nuclear
programs in Iran and North Korea, startling details have emerged from
declassified U.S. government documents regarding its success in halting
Taiwan's budding nuclear project in the 1970s.
U.S. Points to PRC Role in
Cross-Strait Issues
(Central News Agency, Feb. 25, 2007) The U.S. government needs to take into
account all factors affecting stability across the Taiwan Strait in dealing
with cross-strait issues, which include China's military deployments against
Taiwan and the lack of high-level political contact between the two sides,
said Thomas Christensen, deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian
and Pacific affairs.
The United States' Quiet
Victories in East Asia By Michael J. Green
(Washington
Post, Feb. 13, 2007) Is America's Pacific Century over? Is America losing
Asia to China? Not yet. As with all things Asian, the appearance of harmony
in the meetings in Cebu does not entirely match reality. Almost all the major
leaders at the summit still trust Washington more than their neighbors, China
in particular.
Congress Members Laud
Friendship with Taiwan
(Taipei Times, Feb. 8, 2007) More than two dozen members of the US Congress
paid tribute to Taiwan on Tuesday as the 143-member Congressional Taiwan
Caucus celebrated its fifth anniversary.
Time Right
for a US-Taiwan FTA By Claude Barfield
(TT, Oct. 24, 2006) U.S. shift toward bilateral free
trade agreements (FTAs) with willing partners will bring into stark relief a
major dilemma for US trade and diplomatic policy: the increasing political
and economic isolation of Taiwan within the region.
A Strange Calculus By Gary J. Schmitt, Dan Blumenthal
(Wall Street
Journal Asia, Aug. 21, 2006) U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld last
month wrote to the U.S. Congress opposing a measure calling for upgraded
military exchanges with Taiwan. The measure in question ought not to be
contentious. Washington has a vital interest in encouraging Taiwan to improve
its defensive capabilities.
The US Ignores Asia at Its
Peril By Richard Halloran
(Taipei Times, Aug 12, 2006) With fighting in Iraq, Israel and Afghanistan
and ominous noises coming from Iran, Washington is neglecting the very part
of the world that has become the 'center of gravity.'
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