Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (???), who is on an 11-day trip to the United States, on Friday described Taiwan’s relationship with the U.S. as being the “most important” in several key areas.
The “Taiwan-U.S. relationship is the most important” one when it comes to Taiwan’s security, national defense, and trade and economy, said Chu during a press conference in San Francisco, which was live-streamed on the KMT’s Facebook page.
The KMT welcomes the U.S. and other countries to establish further collaboration in various areas with Taiwan, Chu said, adding that the party would not “recoil” from the pressure of China.
“We will insist on matters that benefit Taiwan and the people of the Republic of China,” he said, mentioning in particular the improvement of the country’s defense capability and the newly launched U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade, under which the two countries are set to facilitate trade negotiations.
Chu said the KMT remains dedicated to serving a critical role in maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait while contributing to peace in the Asia-Pacific region.
At the same time, Chu said, the KMT would not rely solely on Taiwan’s ties with the U.S. in preserving the country’s security.
With that in mind, the KMT will continue seeking dialogue with Beijing and fostering exchanges between Taiwan and China, the chairman said, stressing that these efforts would prevent a conflict or war in the Taiwan Strait.
The press conference was held shortly before Chu departed for Washington, D.C., where he is scheduled to meet with U.S. government officials, lawmakers, as well as think tank representatives, said the KMT, Taiwan’s main opposition party.
While in Washington, Chu will attend a plaque-unveiling ceremony for the KMT’s liaison office and give a keynote speech at the Washington-based think tank Brookings Institution.
The KMT chairman embarked on the U.S. tour from Taipei Thursday morning and made his first stop in San Francisco.
During his brief stay in San Francisco, Chu visited the Hoover Institution at Stanford University to exchange views with scholars on issues of interest to both Taiwan and the U.S., and met the overseas Taiwanese community, according to the KMT.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel