Burghardt's visit to Taipei

The haste with which Burghardt is visiting Taipei — just a week after President Obama left China — is greatly appreciated, of course. That shows Washington wants Taipei to understand as soon as possible Uncle Sam won't walk out on Taiwan while trying to win Chinese “friendship.”

Washington knows full well Taipei must be seriously concerned because President Obama mentioned only briefly the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, which promises U.S. assistance, particularly in the form of arms sales, to the island to defend itself against possible attack from the People's Republic. Beijing codified automatic invasion should Taiwan make a move toward de jure independence by an anti-secession law adopted in 2005. Former President Chen Shui-bian followed a policy of undeclared independence, which greatly worried Washington as well as Beijing.

Obama didn't make mention of the act in Shanghai nor in his talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao in Beijing. But he told the American press of one of the most important pillars of U.S. foreign policy vis-a-vis China and Taiwan. Burghardt described Obama's mention of the act as motivated by “a personal desire to make sure it's mentioned.”

Burghardt had to calm the jitters of our government leaders roused by Obama's omission of mention about the 1979 act in Shanghai and his cursory remarks in Beijing. Burghardt also had to inform Taipei the United States is still reviewing the sales of F-16C/D fighters. Taiwan needs them as soon as practicable.

At any rate, we are glad the United States saw to it that Taipei was reassured almost at once that Obama's China trek did no harm to Taiwan's national interest.

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