各位女士與先生，大家早安、晚安！我很榮幸參加此次「中華民國-美國線上論壇」，並有此機會向各位致詞。我由衷感謝各位與會的專家學者，尤其是來自美國的朋友們。
我在今年五月份接任國家政策研究基金會的董事長。在此之前，我曾擔任國際關係領域的教授長達十年之久，也曾在台灣重要的智庫研究亞太經合會的相關課題，所以我非常明瞭國家政策研究基金會在增進與各國智庫交流上所能發揮的功能。在國家政策研究基金會完成人事微調後，我期盼國家政策研究基金會能在先前所奠定的基礎上，向前邁進，讓台灣乃至於世界各地都能更深入理解當今全球與各區域的重要事務。
由於年初以來無法預料的新冠肺炎疫情，我們無法親自與對方會面。然而，危機便是轉機，這也因此讓我們藉由線上論壇的平台進行互動。
各位女士與先生，當您有任何探討臺灣內部議題、大陸內部事務、兩岸關係以及與美國或其他重要國家有關的地區問題之需求，請務必重視國家政策研究基金會的角色。我已要求我的同事們積極主動與全球政策社群展開密切交流。身處台灣，對於上述各領域有興趣的朋友，我們會竭盡全力提供精闢的分析觀點，並相互交流。
今天探討的主題之一是聚焦中華民國與美國的關係。儘管美國於1979年中斷與中華民國的官方關係，但我相信臺北與華盛頓至今仍保有密切的非官方往來。無論在政治與安全層面，或是雙方的經貿、文化交流乃至社會等各領域的互動，維繫緊密的雙邊關係對於我方具有無與倫比的意義。
依此，請容我再闡述兩點。
首先，美國在幫助我方拓展國際空間的角色無庸置疑。臺灣目前迫切需要有意義參與世界衛生組織、國際民航組織及國際刑警組織等專門性國際機構。除臺灣自身努力外，這些目標的實現，都需要美國在內的國際社會協助。美國約莫自1990年代以來對臺灣所提供道德支持之重視，是臺灣能夠有意義地參與國際社會的關鍵之一。
我欣見美國衛生及公共服務部阿札爾部長的來訪，此行象徵著美國強化對臺灣的支持，尤其是有關臺灣參與世界衛生組織的議題。而這也是睽違六年後，美國再度派遣內閣官員訪問我國。
1979年的台灣關係法(TRA)是維繫兩國關係的最重要基礎，希望在此基礎上，美國政府能進一步落實近年來所通過的各項友台法案，讓雙方的高層交流，能在互惠與互利的前提下，實現制度化與常態化，這才是關鍵。缺乏正式外交關係，並不一代表兩國間不能有高層接觸與往來。
第二，美台軍售關係的持續提升，包括陸續批准出售台灣主要武器裝備，以及促使對台軍售程序的逐步常態化，這些都是正面進展，但除硬體之外，台美雙方在軍事上應進行更深入與更廣泛的對話、交流、訓練與合作。
國防實力是中華民國賴以生存與發展的憑藉，國防預算的合理提升有其必要，正如所有民主國家，立法院必須盡責把關與監督行政部門的施政，確保納稅人的每一分錢都花在刀口上。
各位女士與先生，我非常珍惜今天的寶貴機會，讓我們得以在這些眾所關注的重要議題上，增進彼此理解。在這波新冠肺炎疫情趨緩後，我希望盡快率團展開美國之行，這將是我今年三月就任國民黨黨主席及五月接掌國家政策研究基金會董事長之後的首次訪美行程。我堅信透過代表台灣理性與中道的聲音，我的同仁與我都更能深化台美社會的理解與認同。我們都必須致力於此，不是嗎？
最後，謹代表國家政策研究基金會，預祝此次論壇圓滿成功。非常感謝大家！
Press Release
KMT Culture and
Communications Committee
August 27, 2020
Chairman Chiang’s
Opening Remarks at the ROC-US Online Forum 2020
Thank you. Good morning and good evening, ladies
and gentlemen. It is my great pleasure to speak to you at the ROC-US Online
Forum. It is a privilege for me to take part in it. I would like to extend my
sincere appreciation to all of our panelists, in particular our friends from
the US.
It was this May when I took up my new position as
NPF Chairman. I was a professor of international relations for 10 years and
became involved in APEC studies with a leading research institute in Taiwan, so
I definitely know how the NPF can function to enhance interactions with its
counterparts and friends overseas. After a slight reshuffling of the
Foundation’s management team and staff, I hope the NPF can follow up on what
has been achieved and move on to help Taiwan and the rest of the world
understand contemporary regional and world affairs.
Due to the unexpected coronavirus pandemic that
began early this year, all of us have been unable to visit one another in
person. But with crisis comes opportunity. That’s why we all can meet via
webinar today.
Please, ladies and gentlemen, keep NPF in mind
whenever you have the need to discuss domestic issues of Taiwan, mainland
China’s internal issues, cross-Strait relations, or regional issues involving
the US or other major powers. I’ve asked my colleagues to proactively engage
policy communities around the world. We are here in Taipei striving to provide
useful perspectives and exchange ideas with all friends interested in the
issues mentioned above.
One of the focuses today is the prospect of ROC-US
relations. I believe that although the United States ended official relations
with the Republic of China in 1979, Taipei and Washington have still maintained
close unofficial ties since then. Whether these ties involve politics,
security, or trade and cultural exchange, maintaining them is of utmost
importance to our foreign policy.
With that, please allow me to make two more
points.
First, no one should deny the fact that the US has
long played a significant role in expanding the Republic of China’s
international space. I have seen an urgent need for the Republic of China to
participate meaningfully in the following specialized international
organizations: the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Civil
Aviation Organization (ICAO), and the International Criminal Police
Organization (INTERPOL), among others. Taiwan needs the support of the
international community, including the US. So, let me reiterate that I think
highly of the US moral support that has been given to Taiwan since around the
1990s. It is the key to Taiwan’s meaningful participation.
I am happy to see the recent visit of US Health
Secretary Alex Azar as a sign of increased support from Washington,
particularly for Taiwan’s participation in the WHO. After 6 long years, the US
has finally once again dispatched a cabinet-level official to the Republic of
China.
All of this rests on the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act
(TRA), which forms the foundation of our bilateral relations. I hope the US
government can implement its recently passed Taiwan-friendly bills, continuing
to allow high-level officials on both sides to meet their counterparts on an
institutionalized and regularized basis. This is crucial. The lack of
diplomatic ties does not necessarily mean lack of high-level official exchange
between the two countries.
Second, US arms sales to the Republic of China
have continued to grow, including successive approvals of sales of major
weaponry and equipment. The process of these important sales is becoming
gradually more normalized. These are all positive developments. However,
besides hardware sales, the two countries should also engage in deeper and
broader dialogue, exchanges, training, and cooperation regarding security
affairs.
The Republic of China relies on strong national
defense for not only prosperity, but also for its very survival. Therefore, a
reasonable increase in Taiwan’s defense budget appears necessary. That being
said, the Legislative Yuan of the Republic of China must exercise checks and
balances to ensure that every taxpayer cent is spent with care.
Ladies and gentlemen, I do value today’s occasion
as a good opportunity for reinforcing our mutual understanding about key issues
we all feel concerned about. After the COVID-19 pandemic eventually subsides, I
hope to visit the US, which will be my first US trip since my assuming
leadership of the Kuomintang this March and of the NPF this May. I strongly
believe that by representing a rational and pragmatic voice from Taiwan, my
colleagues and I will be able to better serve to deepen communication and
understanding between Taiwan’s and the US’s societies. This is the task all of
us should devote ourselves to, isn’t it?
In closing, on behalf of the NPF, I want to wish
all of you a very productive forum today. Thank you very much.
