US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared on Tuesday that there has been no change in the policy of the United States towards Taiwan, and Washington wishes to maintain the status quo. TASR writes about it according to the Reuters and AFP agencies.
“The most important thing is to understand that we want the status quo to be maintained. That’s our position, that’s what we’ve said and that’s what we continue to say,” Rubio said at a hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “It is a very sensitive relationship that is difficult to balance, but our policy towards Taiwan is not changing,” he stressed.
Reuters reminds that the April meeting between the presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping raised concerns in Beijing, whether Washington is determined to militarily support Taiwan as it has been.
The Communist People’s Republic of China considers Taiwan (its official name is the Republic of China) its territory and has not given up its intention of using military force to take it over since winning the civil war in 1949. He therefore criticizes the long-term American military support of Taipei, which aims to deter Communist China from military intervention.
In 1979, the US established diplomatic relations with Beijing and severed formal relations with Taiwan, recognizing the “one China” policy. However, in the same year, the US Congress passed the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), according to which they are The U.S. is obligated to provide the island with “arms in quantities necessary for its own defense” and to maintain its ability to defend itself against the use of force or coercion. Republican and Democratic congressmen therefore call on the Trump administration to continue selling weapons.
However, Trump recently delayed signing a $14 billion arms deal with Taiwan that was approved by Congress and he called her a “very good bargaining chip” in negotiations with Sim. Rubio declared on Tuesday that the agreement is still under review.
