AIT chair lauds President Ma for bringing peace

While addressing an Asia-Pacific security forum held in Taipei, Burghardt gave a review on the positive impact from the various policies and measures adopted by Ma and his administration toward China after he assumed office.

He said the U.S. government is required to abide by the articles and spirit of the Taiwan Relations Law to continue the supply of self-defense arms to Taiwan to cope with the military threats from the Chinese mainland.

Burghardt concurred with President Ma's statements that without an adequate defense capability, Taiwan will not be able to confidently go to the negotiating table.

Regarding the ties between the U.S. and China, Burghardt pointed out the long-term relations characterized by both cooperation and competition with Beijing.

The cooperation with China on issues like trade imbalance, atmosphere monitor and control, the North Korea problem, and the safety and inferior quality involving Chinese food products are expected to continue, he said.

In his paper delivered at the symposium, Director General Perry Pei-hwang Shen of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago said the interaction that has resumed between Taiwan and China has helped ease the tension and confrontation across the Taiwan Strait.

Taiwan has become a guardian for peace and is willing to more actively participate in international affairs, including joining major organizations like the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to make greater contributions to the international community, Shen said.

The symposium was arranged by Chen Ping, president of Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University.

Other scholars and researchers delivering speeches at the gathering included Charles Salmon, a foreign affairs adviser at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies; and Prof. Michael R. Chambers, a political science professor at Indiana State University.

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