Taiwan remains in close contact with U.S.: MOFA

Taipei--Taiwan remains in close contact with the United States, based on the "surprise-free" principle of interaction, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Saturday, in response to a telephone conversation between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping (???) earlier this week.

Taiwan and the U.S. maintain close relations, open communication lines and both sides continue to keep in contact based on the principle of "surprise-free," said MOFA spokeswoman Eleanor Wang (???), when commenting on the Thursday call between Trump and Xi.

"The U.S. is Taiwan's most important ally in the world," she said.

Meanwhile, maintaining good ties between Taiwan and the U.S. and stability in East Asia are in the interest of Washington, Wang said.

She also took the opportunity to thank senior U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defense Secretary James Mattis, for reiterating the Trump administration's commitment to Taiwan security, based on the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) and the Six Assurances.

Based on the existing bilateral foundation, "we will continue to develop a stronger partnership with the U.S. and jointly contribute to regional peace, stability and well-being", Wang said.

According to the White House, Trump and Xi discussed "numerous topics," and Trump committed to honoring the "one China" policy at Xi's request after having suggested in December that U.S. backing for the policy might be contingent on a trade deal with Beijing.

Under its backing of the one China policy -- diplomatic acknowledgment that there is only one government of China -- the U.S. has recognized the People's Republic of China rather than the Republic of China (Taiwan) as the seat of the Chinese government.

The TRA was enacted in 1979 to maintain commercial, cultural and other unofficial relations between the U.S. and Taiwan after Washington switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing. The TRA also requires the U.S. "to provide Taiwan with arms of a defensive character."

The Six Assurances given to Taiwan in 1982 by U.S. President Ronald Reagan include pledges not to set a date for ending arms sales to Taiwan, not to hold prior consultations with China regarding arms sales to Taiwan and not to play a mediation role between Taiwan and China.

They also include assurances that the U.S. will not revise the TRA, alter its position regarding Taiwan's sovereignty, or pressure Taiwan to enter into negotiations with China.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel