On November 18 Republic of China US Representative, Stanley Kao, visited Atlanta. Representative Kao and Mrs. Kao, accompanied by TECO Atlanta Director General Steven Tai and TECO Officer Peter Chiou, attended a reception at Georgia Tech sponsored by the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts and the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs. The reception was hosted by Joseph R. Bankoff, J.D.; Margaret Kosal, Ph.D., and attended by Representative Tom Taylor.
In his presentation to the gathering, “The Current State and Prospects for U.S.-Taiwan Relations,” Kao
noted that he has faith that the US and Taiwan will continue their longstanding relationship of friendship and trade. Kao stated that Taiwan is the US's 9th largest trading partner, and that the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances commit the US to come to Taiwan's aid in the event of an invasion from mainland China.
Representative Kao went on to say that the recently inaugurated Taiwanese president, Tsai Ing-Wen, plans to open dialogue with mainland China to balance the need to reflect the wariness of many Taiwanese toward mainland China with regional security imperatives.
Despite the US President-Elect's opposition to the Trans Pacific Partnership, which Taiwan had hoped to join, Kao remains optimistic that Taiwan will continue to have strategic relevance as a force for peace and prosperity in the region. He said that Taiwan's days as an “Asian Tiger” may have passed, but its focus on creative industries, startups and renewable energy bode well for its economic future.
Kao emphasized that he believes the US and Taiwan will continue their strong relationship that is based on a shared commitment to democratic values.
In a Q&A following the presentation, students asked Representative Kao about territorial disputes in the South China Sea, the Trans Pacific Partnership, and Taiwan's efforts to increase its participation in international organizations. More than 150 people attended the event.
Trevor Williams of Global Atlanta wrote an article about Representative Kao's visit. To read it, click on http://www.globalatlanta.com/taiwan-rep-bedrock-u-s-relations-solid….
