In an article dated January 11, former co-chair of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus and a long-time supporter and friend of Taiwan, Rep. Chabot expressed shock about the threats China strongman Xi Jinping directed at Taiwan during his New Year address.

In his address, Xi Jinping stated that “reunification” of China and Taiwan must come under this One China Principle, and held out a Hong Kong-style “one country, two systems” model for Taiwan and that he was willing to use force to annex Taiwan.

Rep. Chabot writes: “I have long said that Taiwan is a country, and that if it were not for China’s bullying of the international community to the contrary, Taiwan would be a normal country today.”

In his article, Chabot offered that China’s “One China Principle” lays at the foundation of China’s unrealistic claim over Taiwan.

The One China Principle, as laid down in the preamble of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China, reads: “Taiwan is part of the sacred territory of the People’s Republic of China.”

Chabot recommends that with the new U.S. Congress in place, the time is now for the U.S. Government to challenge China’s “One China Principle by asserting the following positions:

1. Taiwan authorities’ are the legitimate representatives of a flourishing democracy.
2. Encouraging both sides of the Taiwan Strait to carry out constructive dialogue without preconditions.
3. Ensuring that any resolution of the future of Taiwan is done peacefully and with the active assent of the people of Taiwan.

Chabot concludes: “What it comes down to is that Taiwan’s future should be determined by the 23.5 million people of Taiwan – not by China.”                                                     

前眾院台灣連線小組共同主席、長期友台的眾議員夏波，於1月11日發表文章譴責中國強人習近平新年對台發表的威脅性談話。

習近平表示中國統一和台灣問題一定要置於一中原則之下，並對台灣提出香港的一國兩制模式。他同時更指出願意武力併吞台灣。

夏波議員對此寫道: 「我一直以來主張台灣是一個國家。若非中國持續霸凌國際社會，台灣今日早就會是個正常國家。」

在他的文章裡面，夏波更指出中國的「一中原則」為其背離事實的宣稱打下基礎。

在中華人民共和國憲法裡面，一中原則為「台灣屬於中華人民共和國領土的一部份」。

夏波議員建議在新一屆的國會中，應該讓美國政府主張以下立場挑戰中國的一中原則:

1. 台灣當局為一個民主政體的正當統治者。
2. 鼓勵台海兩岸以不設前提的方式進行建設性對話。
3. 確保台灣的未來以包含台灣人民同意的方式和平解決。

夏波總結道: 「台灣的未來應該由其2350萬的人民決定，而非中國。」

In a move to showcase the newly enacted Taiwan Travel Act, Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH) urged National Security Adviser John Bolton to attend the opening of the new American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) building in Taipei on June 12, 2018.

Congressman Chabot is a long-time supporter of Taiwan. He is a founding chairman of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, former chairman of the House Asian Subcommittee and initiator of the Taiwan Travel Act that was signed into law by President Trump on March 16.

The Congressman writes: “On June 12, 2018, the American Institute in Taiwan is scheduled to open a new building in Taipei. This new complex will assist in the consolidation of operations that are currently scattered among several sites. The new and modern building complex, that underwent construction beginning in 2009, will reflect the important critical and multi-dimensional relationship between the United States and our longtime friend and democratic ally Taiwan.”

The Congressman concludes: “In light of the ever-growing Taiwan-U.S. relations, I respectfully encourage you, Ambassador Bolton, to attend the opening of the American Institute in Taiwan’s new complex in Taipei next month.

FAPA President Mike Kuo states: “During the previous three administrations the United States Trade Representative, the Secretary of Transportation and the chief of the Environmental Protection Agency visited Taiwan. In light of the enactment into law of the Taiwan Travel Act this past March, it now behooves the United States to send a Cabinet official to Taiwan who personifies the continuously burgeoning relationship between the two countries. Long-time friend and outspoken supporter of Taiwan -National Security Adviser John Bolton- is the perfect candidate for such an important mission.”

The Taiwan Travel Act was introduced by Reps. Ed Royce, Brad Sherman, and Steve Chabot in the House of Representatives in January 2017 and by Senators Marc Rubio, Sherrod Brown, Cory Gardner, James Inhofe, Robert Menendez, and Gary Peters in May 2017. The legislation encourages visits between the United States and Taiwan at all levels, including the president. It was signed into law by President Trump on March 16, 2018.

為了展現美國新生效的台灣旅行法，夏波眾議員(Steve Chabot，R-OH)特地致函敦促國家安全顧問約翰波頓來台參加2018年6月12日美國在台協會台北新大樓開幕慶祝活動。

夏波眾議員長久以來堅定支持台灣，他是國會台灣連線的創始主席，前亞太小組主席以及今年3月16日方交由川普總統簽署的台灣旅行法的發起人。

夏波議員給波頓的信函裡提到：「美國在台協會即將於2018年6月12日在台北的新據點開幕，將之前遍布台北市區內不同地方的據點集合一地。這棟嶄新的現代化建築自2009年起動工，將反應出我們和長期的民主盟友- 台灣的多層面以及關鍵性關係。

夏波議員信末總結道：「有鑑於我們與台灣持續性强化的關係，我誠摯鼓勵波頓大使下個月親自到台北參加美國在台協會新大樓開幕盛會。」

FAPA會長郭正光表示：「前三任的美國行政部門任內，美國貿易代表、交通部部長和環保局局長皆曾參訪過台灣。有鑑於今年三月通過的台灣旅行法，現在正是美國應該讓內閣官員來台灣的時候，尤其能彰顯台美兩國多年以來的友好發展。而身為台灣的老朋友且多次為台灣發聲的支持者-國家安全顧問約翰波頓先生-則是擔任本重要任務的不二人選。」

台灣旅行法在美國眾議院由外交委員會主席羅伊斯議員，薛爾曼議員及夏波議員於2017年1月共同提出。在參議院則是由參議員魯比奧，參議員布朗，參議員賈德納，參議員殷荷菲，參議員梅南德茲，與參議員彼德斯共同提出。法案目的在鼓勵台美兩國各層級官員，包括內閣層級的國家安全官員。川普總統於2018年3月16日簽署成效。

Rep. Chabot’s Letter