Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) in Support of Taiwan

LOS ANGELES— Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen spoke June 11 at the Formosa Foundation headquarters in Rosemead in anticipation of a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on “Why Taiwan Matters,” in Washington D.C. on June 16.

She is Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and emphasized in her remarks that “Taiwan remains a great beacon of democracy in East Asia and an important strategic ally in a key region of the world. This is the first such hearing on Taiwan in seven years but, under my Chairmanship, it won’t be the last.”

Ros-Lehtinen recognized and thanked the Taiwanese community in the U.S. for their outstanding contributions in a wide range of areas including medicine, engineering, education, science, and the arts.

June 16 Hearing on U.S-Taiwan Relations

Her scheduled hearing on June 16 will focus on U.S-Taiwan relations, Implementation of the Taiwan Relations Act, and the future of Taiwan’s democracy.

“One of the reasons we will be holding this hearing is that I am deeply concerned for Taiwan’s future, as it tries to cope with a rising China. I am also increasingly troubled about recent trends in U.S.-Taiwan relations, trends which suggest, as one scholar writes, ‘a marked decline in U.S. support for the island’s freedom of action.’ Let me make one thing clear: I support the Taiwanese people and their democracy.”

She added that Taiwan has not been featured prominently in the speeches of senior administration policymakers toward Asia, nor has it been a feature of discussion in Department of Defense planning documents. And despite promises by Barak Obama as a Presidential candidate to open up communications with Taiwan, “There has yet to be a cabinet or sub-cabinet level visit to Taiwan by this administration to engage in senior-level discussions with officials in Taipei. It is stunning to contemplate that the last such visit by an American cabinet official took place nearly 11 years ago.”

Ros-Lehtinen questioned the wisdom of Washington marginalizing Taiwan and signaling to the communist leaders in Beijing a reduced commitment to Taiwan.

Missiles targeting Taiwan still growing in number

Over the years the Chinese regime has steadily increased the number of missiles targeting Taiwan from approximately 900 in 2006 to over 1,600 in 2011 and according to The Liberty Times is likely to reach 1,800 next year.

The Pentagon reported last year that China's military build-up against Taiwan had "continued unabated" despite improving political relations since Ma Ying-jeou became Taiwan's president in 2008 on a China-friendly, political platform. Nonetheless, Beijing refuses to withdraw the possible use of force against Taiwan should it declare formal independence.

“Unfortunately, in the face of this challenge, Taiwan’s own defense spending continues to be relatively weak and is now less than 3% of GDP,” said Ros-Lehtinen. “It is long past due for the Executive Branch to approve the sale of new F-16C/D fighter aircraft to Taiwan.”

“Last year, the so-called named Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) between Taiwan and Mainland China was finally signed, despite concerns over growing Chinese economic influence on the island,” she said. “Like the Trojan horse which allowed the Greek invaders to penetrate the inner walls of Troy, this agreement may well prove to be a political tool that masquerades as a trade instrument to achieve China's ultimate goal of absorbing Taiwan.”

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