Taiwan: Taipei To Observe Upcoming U.S.-China Summit Closely
The Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday 5 June 2013 that special task forces have been established to monitor upcoming meetings between the U.S. and Chinese presidents in California.
Below is an article published by Focus Taiwan:
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Anna Kao said the task forces have been established at the ministry level and at Taiwan's representative offices in the U.S. to closely follow the developments in the June 7-8 [2013] summit between U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Kao noted that ties between Taiwan and the U.S. have been strong in recent years and said the U.S. will brief Taiwan on the progress of the summit.
Former American Institute in Taiwan Chairman Richard Bush said he is confident the two leaders will touch upon the subject of Taiwan.
However, a senior Taiwanese diplomat said that from past experience, the U.S. never raises the issue of Taiwan during U.S.-China meetings, and that whenever the subject is raised, the U.S. simply stresses its adherence to the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA).
He added that the U.S. will continue to carry out its arms sales policy regarding Taiwan in line with the Six Assurances offered by the late U.S. President Ronald Reagan in 1982.
The last U.S.-China summit was in January 2011, when then-Chinese President Hu Jintao met with Obama in Washington. Obama at the time reiterated the U.S. adherence to the TRA and said he welcomed the improved Taiwan-China relations.
