FAPA Congratulates Marco Rubio on His Confirmation as Secretary of State
The Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA) extends its congratulations to Marco Rubio confirmed unanimously by the U.S. Senate as the 72nd U.S. Secretary of State on January 20, 2025. A resolute supporter of Taiwan and a staunch China hawk, Secretary Rubio is widely recognized and deeply appreciated for his unwavering dedication to strengthening the U.S.-Taiwan partnership, countering China’s aggression, and promoting Taiwan’s international presence.
On January 15, 2025, during his Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing, then-Senator Rubio (R-FL) reaffirmed his commitment to supporting Taiwan’s national defense and international participation, stressing that defending Taiwan against China’s aggression is “critical” for the United States.
In response to a question from Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Rubio described the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as “the most potent and dangerous near-peer adversary this nation has ever confronted” and warned of severe consequences if the U.S. fails to take decisive action to address this extraordinary challenge.
Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) then posed the first question directly about Taiwan. In response, Senator Rubio emphasized that consecutive presidential administrations from both parties, including the Trump and the Biden administrations, have made clear that “the policy of the United States with Taiwan is encapsulated not just in the Taiwan Relations Act, but in the Six Assurances.”
Agreeing with Merkley that the U.S. must ensure Taiwan maintains sufficient self-defense capabilities, Rubio stressed that to deter Chinese aggression, the U.S. needs to “make the cost of invading Taiwan higher than the benefit.”
When asked by Senator John Curtis (R-UT) how the U.S. can counter the PRC’s efforts to coerce Taiwan, Rubio stated: “We are going to do everything, and we reject any effort to coerce, intimidate, and/or forcibly drive Taiwan to do whatever China wants them to do. And that’s been our position, and that will continue.” Rubio also emphasized that it is “important” for the U.S. “to find every opportunity possible to allow Taiwan to engage in international forums.”
FAPA President Dr. Su-Mei Kao states: “We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Secretary Rubio on his well-deserved confirmation by the Senate. . . . As Secretary of State, he is uniquely positioned to further strengthen and normalize the U.S.-Taiwan relations, counter China’s authoritarian aggression, and advocate for Taiwan’s rightful place in the international community.”
Dr. Kao adds: “We are confident that, under Secretary Rubio’s leadership, U.S. foreign policy will remain steadfast in ensuring Taiwan’s freedom and democracy. We look forward to collaborating with him to bolster U.S. support for Taiwan and promote peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and throughout the Indo-Pacific region.”
As a U.S. Senator, Marco Rubio championed several pro-Taiwan bills, such as the Taiwan Travel Act (enacted on March 16, 2018), the Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative Act (enacted on March 26, 2020), the Taiwan Peace Through Strength Act, the Taiwan Relations Reinforcement Act, and the Taiwan Representative Office Act.
Read the full FAPA statement (available in English and Hanji) HERE.
Stefanik, Trump’s UN Ambassador Pick, Vows Support for Taiwan’s Global Participation
U.S. Representative Elise Stefanik (R-NY), President Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (UN), has pledged to advocate for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations.
“I am committed to making sure that Taiwan has the most maximum meaningful participation within the UN system, as it should in all international organizations,” Stefanik said during her Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing on January 21.
China has repeatedly distorted and misused the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 2758 to advance its unfounded “One China principle” and justify its increasing aggression toward Taiwan.
This manipulation has led to significant injustices within the UN system, including Taiwan’s exclusion from UN membership and participation, the mislabeling of Taiwan as a “province” or “part” of China in UN references, and the discriminatory ban on Taiwanese passport holders and journalists from entering UN premises.
To counter China’s growing influence within the UN, Stefanik emphasized the need to work closely with U.S. allies and partners to ensure “we’re running candidates, either American or allied nations, in the elections process for key leadership posts within the UN system.”
“We have to be vigilant both in the long-term and the short-term to make sure that China is not able to make significant inroads … in international organizations,” she added.
Stefanik also stressed the need for the U.S. to keep a close eye on all UN documents and statements released in Chinese, pointing out that Beijing has attempted to insert “specific language [in those documents] which is counter to our values.”
A vocal critic of China, Stefanik has served as a Republican Representative since 2015. She is currently a senior member of the House Committee on Armed Services and a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
References:
[1] Focus Taiwan
[2] Taipei Times
[3] FAPA
Taiwan, U.S. Sign Specialized Naval Training Program
Taiwan and the United States have signed a two-year specialized training program for the Taiwanese Navy, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said on January 17. The unexpected announcement marks a rare confirmation of U.S. military training in Taiwan.
While the U.S. has a long history of quietly deploying military instructors and special operations teams to Taiwan for training purposes, such arrangements have typically remained classified.
According to the ministry, a Taiwanese military delegation signed an agreement with the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) on January 2. Under the agreement, the U.S. government will send personnel to Taiwan to conduct a two-year specialized naval training program with a budget of nearly NT$50 million (US$1.5 million).
The training program will take place at Zuoying in Kaohsiung, the headquarters of Taiwan’s Navy and Marine Corps. The program is likely related to amphibious combat training with the amphibious naval fleet and Marine Corps.
Although the budget is not high, it is the first time such a “specialized training program” with the U.S. has been officially announced, a military source said on condition of anonymity.
The U.S. has changed its low-key and confidential training approach to a semi-public approach, testing both political and public reactions, the source added.
In recent years, Taiwan’s Marine Corps has sent troops to the U.S. and Guam to receive military training, according to military reports.
The U.S. has also dispatched senior instructors and small units to Taiwan to provide combat training assistance, although such arrangements had not been publicly confirmed until now.
