President Ma Ying-jeou met on the morning of February 20 with a delegation led by US House Committee on Foreign Affairs Chairman Ed Royce and Mrs. Royce. The president warmly welcomed the visitors to Taiwan, and called for continued expansion of bilateral ties and cooperation.
In remarks, President Ma stated that this is the second delegation that Chairman Royce has led to Taiwan since becoming chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs early last year. The president pointed out that Chairman Royce's electoral district in California is home to quite a few compatriots from Taiwan and that he has been a friend to Taiwan for many years. He and other leading colleagues in the US Congress have been strong supporters of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) and the Six Assurances, and have called for increased arms sales to Taiwan as well as stronger bilateral economic and trade relations. The government and people of the ROC, said President Ma, are very thankful for Chairman Royce's efforts in this regard.
The president further stated that Chairman Royce last year authored a bill in support of Taiwan's admission to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as an observer, and secured the legislation's passage. Subsequently, after a 42-year absence from the organization, Taiwan in September of last year participated in the ICAO Assembly in Montreal as a special guest, he said. Taiwan, the president noted, is an important nation in aviation, because Taiwan's airspace accommodates 14 international flight routes, and air traffic controllers here help direct 1.3 million international flights through Taiwan's airspace per year. Membership in the ICAO, he said, would make it a lot easier for Taiwan to obtain aviation-related information.
President Ma stated that when he made a transit stop in Los Angeles at the end of January, he spoke over the phone with Congressman Brad Sherman, a member of this delegation. In addition, he said, Congressmen Randy Weber, Luke Messer, and Joe Kennedy are important friends of Taiwan on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Furthermore, the president noted, Congressman Steve Chabot and Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo each visited Taiwan last year, adding that he is deeply grateful to all the guests for their strong support for Taiwan.
Turning to the topic of cross-strait relations, President Ma stated that Minister Wang Yu-Chi (王郁琦) of the Executive Yuan's Mainland Affairs Council went to mainland China on February 11 for a four-day visit, during which he met with his mainland Chinese counterpart, Minister Zhang Zhijun (張志軍) of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council. This marked the first time in the 65 years since the two sides of the Taiwan Strait came under separate rule that the top officials from each side with responsibility for cross-strait affairs formally met in mainland China. This historical milestone, the president said, yielded a number of substantive results, such as the establishment of an institutionalized communication mechanism, the providing of health insurance to Taiwanese students studying in the mainland, and communication on issues related to humanitarian visits by people on either side. He expressed hope that various issues can be resolved as quickly as possible in order to enhance stability and sustainable peace in cross-strait relations.
President Ma mentioned that Taiwan and Japan in April of last year signed a fisheries agreement that resolved a 40-year fisheries dispute. The shelving of contention regarding sovereignty has enabled fishermen of both nations to operate in joint conservation and management areas, he said. This is an important example of his East China Sea Peace Initiative being put into action, the president commented. In addition, he explained, Taiwan and the Philippines reached an agreement within three months of the Guang Da Xing No. 28 fishing boat incident, in which a Philippine government vessel fired on a Taiwanese fishing boat, killing a fisherman and damaging the boat. This incident was resolved when the Philippine government issued an apology, paid compensation, and filed charges against those responsible, he said. Both of these are examples of Taiwan being a model in working to resolve disputes with other nations in a peaceful manner, the president commented.
As for Taiwan-US relations, President Ma remarked, Taiwan was formally included in the US Visa Waiver Program in November 2012, and last year Taiwan and the United States resumed negotiations under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA). The president said he hopes the two sides in the near future will sign an investment agreement and that Taiwan will be able to join the US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the ASEAN-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which would keep Taiwan from being marginalized in the process of regional economic integration. In addition, he commented, over the past five years the United States, thanks in part to the support of his visitors, has approved a total of US$18.3 billion worth of arms sales to Taiwan. P-3C Orion anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft and AH-64E Apache helicopters purchased by Taiwan have begun to be delivered, which is enhancing Taiwan's military preparedness, he said.
President Ma further stated that Taiwan's corporate sector has also been actively participating in the SelectUSA investment initiative being carried out by the United States. Former Vice President Vincent C. Siew (蕭萬長) led a delegation of business leaders to the United States last year on a trip that yielded considerable results, he said. Meanwhile, the president commented, Taiwan relies on imports for 98% of its energy needs. Consequently, Taiwan hopes to purchase shale gas from the United States, he added, further stating that in light of the considerable trade deficit of the United States with Taiwan, he is confident that such purchases would have a positive impact on economic relations between the two sides.
Chairman Royce also delivered remarks, during which he said that the House of Representatives passed legislation supporting observer status for Taiwan in the ICAO, which helped Taiwan participate in the ICAO Assembly, thus affording Taiwan more breathing room in the international arena. If Taiwan is able to join the TPP, he said, it would boost Taiwan's economic development and create even more investment, trade, and job opportunities for Taiwan and his district in California, thus benefitting people from both sides.
Chairman Royce noted that April 10 of this year will mark the 35th anniversary of the signing of the TRA. He said he is presently promoting a bill in the House of Representative to affirm the importance of the TRA, and hopes the bill will be passed before April 10.
Chairman Royce further recognized Taiwan's proactive efforts to alleviate tension in the Asia-Pacific region. He pointed out that many American congressmen were very concerned about the Guang Da Xing No. 28 fishing boat incident and felt that the treatment of the Taiwanese fishermen was a grave injustice. He said he and his colleagues were pleased that justice ultimately was achieved. Chairman Royce also reiterated Taiwan's importance in seas in the area.
Chairman Royce stressed that both the United States and Taiwan emphasize democracy, human rights, and the value of the individual. He said that he will continue to lead congressmen on visits to Taiwan in the future if he has the opportunity, with the hope of enhancing bilateral friendship.
President Ma responded by saying that the fishing dispute between Taiwan and the Philippines did not deter Taiwan from providing immediate assistance to the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan devastated parts of that country last November. Taiwan, he said, responded promptly with over 680 tons of relief supplies, which were delivered to the Philippines on 18 flights by ROC air force cargo planes and naval vessels to aid the disaster victims.
In the future, President Ma stated, the ROC will continue to act as a peacemaker and a provider of humanitarian aid in the international community, and will work to resolve controversies through peaceful means.