Rubio: U.S. Opposes Any Forced or Coercive Change to Taiwan’s Status
On February 26, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed the United States’ opposition to any attempt to alter Taiwan’s status through force or coercion, echoing his February 20 statement.
In a February 26 interview with Fox News, Rubio stated, “We have a longstanding position on Taiwan that we’re not going to abandon, and that is: We are against any forced, compelled, coercive change in the status of Taiwan.”
“That’s been our position since the late 1970s, and that continues to be our position, and that’s not going to change,” he said.
When asked how the U.S. would respond to a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, Rubio reaffirmed that the U.S. has “existing commitments that it has made to prevent that from happening and to react to it, and that would be executed on,” adding, “the Chinese are aware of this as well.”
He emphasized that the U.S. must maintain a strong presence in the Indo-Pacific to counter China’s attempts to push the U.S. out of the region.
Rubio stated that the best way to deter a Chinese invasion of Taiwan is to ensure a robust U.S. “military capability” to respond decisively.
He warned that if China perceives the U.S. as unable to respond or led by a weak leader, it may feel emboldened to test the situation and invade Taiwan.
However, Rubio expressed hope that such an invasion would not happen, stating that it “would be a terrible thing for the world” and “a bad thing for China” as well.
When asked whether he would convey these views to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Rubio said the U.S. has already made its position clear and that China is well aware of it.
Earlier, in a February 20 interview, Rubio also reiterated the U.S. opposition to any compelled or forced change to Taiwan’s status, emphasizing that the U.S. does not seek to provoke or create a conflict.
When asked whether the U.S. would defend Taiwan if China moved against it, Rubio stressed that the U.S. has expressed clear commitments to Taiwan through multiple administrations for many years.
He reiterated the U.S.’ long-standing policies — based on the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances — that “we are against any sort of change in status by force or by threat or by coercion.”
Rubio also reaffirmed the U.S.’ continued support for Taiwan’s participation in international forums.
References:
[1] U.S. Department of State (Feb. 26 interview)
[2] Taiwan News
[3] U.S. State Department (Feb. 20 interview)
[4] Focus Taiwan
U.S. Lawmakers Reintroduce Bill to Review State Department’s Guidelines on Taiwan Engagement
On February 21, U.S. Representatives Ann Wagner (R-MO), Gerry Connolly (D-VA), and Ted Lieu (D-CA) reintroduced the bipartisan Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act (H.R.1512), requiring the Department of State to review its guidelines on U.S. engagement with Taiwan.
The bill would require the State Department to conduct periodic reviews of its guidelines for engagement with Taiwan and Taiwanese officials, the three lawmakers said in a statement issued on February 25.
These regular reviews and updates must “explain how the guidance deepens and expands United States-Taiwan relations” and take into account that “Taiwan is a democratic partner and a free and open society that respects universal human rights and democratic values,” the statement added.
The reviews should also “identify opportunities to lift any remaining self-imposed limitations on U.S.-Taiwan engagement and articulate a plan to do so,” it said.
After severing diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1979, Washington developed guidelines to restrict official U.S. interactions with Taiwan. These guidelines prohibited senior U.S. executive branch officials, including high-ranking military officers, from visiting Taiwan.
Additionally, meetings between officials from both sides were subject to strict requirements, such as being held outside official federal buildings and requesting that Taiwanese officials refrain from wearing official uniforms or insignia.
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo removed these guidelines at the end of Donald Trump’s first presidency, but many of the restrictions were later reinstated by the administration of former President Joe Biden.
“The Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act will deepen the relationship between our countries and will signal to the world that the United States will never kowtow to Communist China,” Rep. Ann Wagner emphasized in the February 25 statement.
“Now more than ever, it is imperative for the United States to demonstrate its unwavering support for our friend and ally, Taiwan,” Rep. Gerry Connolly stated, adding that “in the face of an increasingly aggressive People’s Republic of China, our commitment to and partnership with Taiwan is paramount.”
“I’m pleased to join my colleagues on this bipartisan bill to ensure the Administration consults Congress as it develops its Taiwan guidance,” Rep. Ted Lieu said. “This will allow for a more unified approach in coordinating U.S.-Taiwan relations and strengthen our essential partnership.”
References:
[1] U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner’s Office
[2] Focus Taiwan
[3] Taipei Times
Bicameral Resolution Introduced to Counter China’s Misuse of UN Resolution 2758
On February 20 in the Senate and February 21 in the House, a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers introduced a bicameral resolution (S.Res.86 & H.Res.148) to counter China’s mischaracterization of UN Resolution 2758 and its exploitation of the U.S. “One China policy” to claim sovereignty over Taiwan.
The resolution states that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has “weaponized” United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 2758, passed in 1971, to isolate Taiwan and to prevent its meaningful participation in international forums.
It highlights that the PRC has attempted to link UNGA Resolution 2758 with its “One China principle,” which falsely claims that “Taiwan is an inalienable part of China.” The PRC has also wrongly asserted that Resolution 2758 addresses the matter of sovereignty over Taiwan.
The proposed resolution underscores that UN Resolution 2758 solely addressed the question of which government would represent the “China” seat at the United Nations.
It further clarifies that UN Resolution 2758 “is not equivalent to, and does not endorse, the PRC’s ‘One China Principle,’” and stresses that “Resolution 2758 does not take a position on Taiwan’s ultimate political status.”
Additionally, the proposed resolution reaffirms that the United States’ “One China policy” — along with similar policies of its partners — is not equivalent to the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) “One China principle.”
The resolution also opposes China’s efforts to prevent Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations.
In the Senate, the resolution was introduced by U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-ID) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Chris Coons (D-DE).
In the House, U.S. Representatives Young Kim (R-CA) and Ami Bera (D-CA), chairwoman and ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific, introduced the resolution alongside Representatives John Moolenaar (R-MI) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL).
“Let me make one thing very clear: America does not recognize China’s claim over Taiwan. Once again, the Chinese government has attempted to trick the world and subvert the United Nations for its own purposes — but we see these malign tactics and stand in support of our friends in Taiwan,” Sen. Jim Risch stated in a news release from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
“To be clear, UNGA Resolution 2758 does not define Taiwan’s political status . . . . The United States, our partners, and the UN must oppose the Chinese Communist Party’s coercive tactics regarding sovereign nations’ treatment of Taiwan and its deliberate distortion of international resolutions to undermine Taiwan’s support around the world,” Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said.
“The Chinese Communist Party continues to distort UNGA Resolution 2758 to justify its sovereignty over Taiwan. Make no mistake, the United States does not recognize the ‘One China Principle’ and will not allow the CCP to silence Taiwan’s voice and suppress Taiwan’s freedoms,” Rep. Young Kim said.
“This resolution sends a strong bipartisan message to the PRC: we oppose its efforts to distort history and isolate Taiwan. The United States will . . . push back against false narratives that threaten global stability,” Rep. Ami Bera noted.
