Gardner meets with Taiwan president; reiterates America’s support

U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) on Aug. 13 met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in Los Angeles to reaffirm support from the United States for the East Asia state, which is officially known as the Republic of China.

Currently, amid growing trade strife between the governments of the U.S. and the People’s Republic of China, Beijing reportedly doesn’t want the American government to continue forming an alliance with the democratic Taiwan, which it considers a breakaway island province.

“As China continues its aggressive and unwarranted campaign to delegitimize Taiwan, the strong reaffirmation of America’s support for the people of Taiwan is more important than ever,” said Sen. Gardner, chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy.

“I thank President Tsai for the opportunity to meet … during her transit through the United States,” the senator said in an Aug. 14 statement, noting they discussed a broad range of issues.

For instance, Sen. Gardner and President Tsai discussed strengthening their defense ties, as well as increased U.S. support for Taiwan’s participation in international organizations.

“I also outlined for President Tsai the bipartisan initiatives that I am leading through Congress to strengthen U.S. support for Taiwan,” Sen. Gardner said, referring to both the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018, S. 2736, and the Taiwan International Participation Act of 2018, S. 2962.

S. 2736, a bipartisan bill Sen. Gardner introduced on April 24, would develop a long-term strategic vision and a comprehensive, multifaceted, and principled United States policy for the Indo-Pacific region, among other purposes, according to text of the bill in the congressional record.

S. 2736, which is under consideration by the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has nine cosponsors, including U.S. Sens. Todd Young (R-IN) and Edward Markey (D-MA).

Sen. Gardner’s S. 2962, which he introduced on May 24, also is a bipartisan bill cosponsored by Sen. Markey that would advocate for Taiwan’s inclusion in certain international organizations, among several provisions, according to the bill’s text.

S. 2962, which also is under consideration by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was introduced in response to “unprecedented pressure international organizations are facing from nations like China to exclude Taiwan from those organizations, including the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), and the World Health Organization (WHO),” according to the senator’s office.

“I will continue to do everything in my power to ensure U.S. policy fully supports a free and democratic Taiwan for generations to come,” said Sen. Gardner.