May 19, 2018
No. 109
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) today thanked friends in the US Congress for a joint letter sent in support of Taiwan. The letter was sent on May 18 by Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), a seasoned member of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, and Senate Taiwan Caucus Cochair Robert Menendez (D-NJ), together with six other Senator colleagues. The signed letter was sent to Doug Parker, CEO of American Airlines, and Oscar Munoz, CEO of United Airlines. In the letter, the senators expressed US Congress’s strong support of Taiwan and pledged to defend the integrity of US firms against Chinese threats. MOFA conveys its heartfelt thanks to the US Senators for their support of justice towards people of Taiwan.
The Senator’s move followed the May 5 White House statement of opposition to the Chinese government’s attempt to impose the use of politically charged designations for Taiwan, exerting pressure on American companies and other nation’s firms. The US Congress has since adopted a number of concrete steps in support of Taiwan, including a letter sent on May 10 by House Committee on Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific Chairman Ted Yoho (R-FL) to US airlines calling for the American companies to resist China’s crude tactics.
MOFA calls on the internal community to recognize the nefarious intent in China’s attempts to interfere in corporate operations and website content. The Beijing authorities’ intensifying pressure has made Taiwan’s diplomatic situation increasingly difficult. We thank the United States administration, Congress, and the American people for their staunch support of and assistance to Taiwan. Taiwan will continue to work with like-minded nations to defend our free democratic system and achieve greater participation in international affairs. (E)