Vice President Lu's Interview with Formosa Television Company
Taipei, April 10 (CNA) Vice President Annette Lu expressed hope Wednesday that the relationship between the United States and the Republic of China "can move toward an official one."
Lu made the remarks on the occasion of the 23rd anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act in an interview with Formosa Television Company.
The TRA was signed into legislation by then U.S. President Jimmy Carter April 10, 1979, permitting continued commercial and cultural relations between the U.S government and the Republic of China following the severing of diplomatic relations.
Lu said that after being in effect for 23 years, the TRA has effectively maintained stability and security in the Taiwan Strait and has protected the fruit of Taiwan's democratic development. But she also said that the TRA has focused on the interests of the peoples of two countries, which she said is not an official relationship and she expressed hope that it will move toward official relations, beginning first with what she described as "semi-official relations."
The United States government's one China policy recognizes Beijing as the sole legitimate government of China.
She also expressed hope that the TRA can be revised so that the United States will recognize Taiwan as a sovereign independent country, encourage and help Taiwan's return to the international community as well as leave behind the "shadow of Washington's one China policy."