NSC: Maintaining Taiwan Strait Status Quo Is Core US-Taiwan Interest

(CNA, by reporter Li Ya-wen, Taipei, 19th) National Security Council (NSC) Deputy Secretary-General Vincent Chao stated at a seminar today that after the "Trump-Xi meeting," the United States has not adjusted its policy toward Taiwan, and that the core interest of both Taiwan and the U.S. is to maintain the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. U.S. President Donald Trump held talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on the 14th. Speaking this morning at the "Seminar on the Development of US-China-Taiwan and Cross-Strait Situation after the Trump-Xi Meeting" at National Taiwan University's Center for China Studies, Chao said that judging from numerous public statements by Trump, U.S. congressional leaders, and others, the U.S. has not adjusted its Taiwan policy post-meeting. Chao stated that from Trump and U.S. congressional leaders to the latest interview with the new U.S. Ambassador to China, David Perdue, it is clear that U.S. policy toward Taiwan has not changed. The fact that different officials are conveying the same message indicates that the U.S. government intends to clearly state this high-consensus content to the world. He said that while the actual progress of Taiwan-U.S. relations can be observed going forward, it can be expected that the messages from the U.S. to Taiwan will be consistent and its policy toward Taiwan will have continuity. U.S. support for the Taiwan-U.S. relationship also remains unchanged. The U.S. Congress and think tanks have always been a source of support for Taiwan-U.S. relations, and after the Trump-Xi meeting, bipartisan lawmakers have expressed their support for Taiwan. Chao emphasized that the most important core interest for Taiwan and the U.S. is to maintain the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. Trump's remarks in an interview, when viewed in a more complete context, can be understood as his concern for how to avoid any situation that could disrupt the Taiwan Strait status quo and lead to an escalation of regional conflict. This is also the mainstream consensus in Taiwanese society and the core position of the Taiwan government. He said that from former President Tsai Ing-wen to current President Lai Ching-te, both have publicly stated that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is an independent democratic country, and the issue of "declaring independence" does not exist. He stressed that President Lai's statement on the 17th has once again emphasized that maintaining the status quo of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the region is the consistent and firm position of the Republic of China and the greatest consensus of the 23 million Taiwanese people. Taiwan is not the party changing the status quo; Beijing is the one undermining regional stability and the root cause of changing the status quo. (Editor: Chou Hui-ying)