By Elaine Hou

ROC President Ma Ying-jeou urged the U.S. to continue selling Taiwan defensive weapons during a reception for members of Washington-based think tank American Enterprise Institute Jan. 17 in Taipei City.

Ma said he hoped the upcoming meeting between U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese Communist Party General-Secretary Hu Jintao in the White House would not stymie Taiwan’s procurement of U.S. arms.

The president said he was concerned that Hu’s visit to the U.S. could derail the sale of F-16 C/D fighters. “This purchase replaces aging aircraft and is not a military buildup,” he added.

Ma also told Arthur C. Brooks, president of the AEI, and Dan Blumenthal, AEI research fellow, that Taiwan will up efforts to be included in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program.

“Besides aiming to lower the country’s U.S. visa-rejection rate, we will introduce a new regulation in July that stipulates all ROC passports must be applied for in person,” Ma said.

On the issue of North Korea, the president reaffirmed Taiwan’s support for U.S. policy, adding that his administration condemns Pyongyang’s provocative actions.

Concerning positive comments made by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on the cross-strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, Ma expressed delight.

“Such support demonstrates that warming cross-strait ties are welcomed by the international community,” he said.

Taiwan Today, Government Information Office (GIO), Republic of China (Taiwan), 18.01.2011

Die Presseabteilung der Taipeh Vertretung mit Sitz in Berlin bietet folgende Dienstleistungen an: Erläuterung der Politik und der Entwicklung der Republik China (Taiwan), Verbreitung von Stellungnahmen und Pressemitteilungen von taiwanischer Seite sowie Beantwortung von Fragen über das Land;
Angebot von Informationsmaterial über Taiwan in deutscher, englischer, und chinesischer Sprache (Broschüren, Filme, Videos, DVDs, Diafilme, CDs);
Anlaufstelle für deutsche Medienvertreter, Angebot von Informationsreisen nach Taiwan für deutsche Journalisten;
Organisation von Veranstaltungen mit dem Ziel, Kontakte zwischen Deutschland und Taiwan zu vertiefen (Vorträge, Seminare, Ausstellungen, Filmfestivals etc.);
Sonstige Öffentlichkeitsarbeit

Presseabteilung Taipeh Vertretung
Markgrafenstr. 35
10117 Berlin

This release was published on openPR.