OPINION:
“Taiwan marks an anniversary” (Web, April 11) correctly points out that the enduring Taiwan-U.S. partnership under the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) framework has proven the linchpin of our bilateral relations. While China’s malignant intention to subvert Taiwan and other democracies has drawn the grave concern of the United States, Taiwan has grown into a full-fledged democracy that shares core values with the United States and has enjoyed strong, consistent, bipartisan and bicameral support in Congress for the past 40 years.
The TRA has shaped my diplomatic career, as I joined Taiwan’s foreign service exactly 40 years ago. Since then, we have been fighting for Taiwan’s international space and dignity while safeguarding our hard-earned freedom, human rights and way of life. The TRA has inspired close cooperation between our two countries on everything from security cooperation and digital economy to law enforcement, public health, women’s empowerment, humanitarian assistance and energy security.
The strategic partnership between Taiwan and the United States, codified in the Taiwan Relations Act, has stood the test of time. As one of my favorite quotes, an African proverb, says: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Taiwan will continue to work with the United States and other like-minded partners to resist and deter China’s aggression and influence operations in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
STANLEY KAO
Representative, Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States
Washington
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