Taiwan international dilemma 'like being able to date but not marry': Speaker Han

Washington, June 24 (CNA) Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) on Wednesday urged U.S. lawmakers in Washington to help expand Taiwan's participation in international organizations, saying the current situation for Taiwan is "like being able to date but not marry."

At a reception held at the Longworth House Office Building, Han thanked the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives for inviting lawmakers from Taiwan's three major political parties to visit the U.S.

He said the delegation was visiting on behalf of the Taiwanese people to congratulate the United States on its 250th anniversary.

Han, a member of Taiwan's main opposition Kuomintang (KMT), said Taiwan and the U.S., though separated by the Pacific Ocean, share a commitment to freedom and a responsibility to safeguard democracy and regional stability.

He highlighted Taiwan's strengths in semiconductor manufacturing, its National Health Insurance system, its small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and its democratic development, and he noted that visiting foreign lawmakers often praise Taiwan's achievements.

At the same time, Han said, Taiwan remains "very isolated" on the international stage because it lacks diplomatic ties with major countries and is unable to fully participate in many international organizations despite its achievements.

Taiwan's position in the international community is "like being able to date but not marry," he said.

Han urged the U.S. lawmakers at the event to support Taiwan's participation in international organizations such as the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Hosted by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States, the reception was attended by 33 members of the U.S. House of Representatives from both parties, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Taiwan Caucus co-chairs Ami Bera and Greg Stanton, former House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, as well as Judy Chu and Ted Lieu.

Many of them expressed their views on Taiwan issues, with Pelosi saying Taiwan enjoys bipartisan and bicameral backing in the U.S. Congress.

Bera reaffirmed his support for Taiwan's right to determine its own future, saying that "the people of Taiwan should decide which way they want to go."

Chu highlighted her efforts to advance legislation aimed at eliminating double taxation between the U.S. and Taiwan, which passed the House in January. She said the measure now requires Senate approval before it can become law, allowing "businesses to flourish even more."

In his speech, Lieu said the best way to "keep China from doing something stupid" is to ensure that countries across the Pacific have the resources needed to defend themselves.

One of the Taiwan delegation members, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chen Kuan-ting (陳冠廷), said Taiwan's three major parties -- the DPP, KMT and Taiwan People's Party (TPP) -- share a common commitment to safeguarding the country's sovereignty and preserving its free and democratic system.

Regarding the Taiwan delegation's visit to the U.S. Senate earlier Wednesday, Chen said it went smoothly, but he declined to disclose any details.

Also on Wednesday, a group of Democratic senators issued a statement following their meeting with the Taiwanese delegation, urging the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to move forward with a US$14 billion arms sale to Taiwan that was approved by Congress more than six months ago.

The statement was signed by Jeanne Shaheen, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as well as Tammy Duckworth, Brian Schatz, Jacky Rosen, Jeff Merkley, Andy Kim and Elissa Slotkin.

The senators said they were encouraged by the cross-party efforts in Taiwan's Legislature to advance a US$25 billion special defense budget aimed at strengthening the island's self-defense capabilities, including with defensive weapons supplied by the U.S.

The U.S. should continue to provide defensive arms to Taiwan as an "effective bulwark against PRC (People's Republic of China) military aggression," the senators said.

The visiting Taiwanese delegation, led by Han, arrived in the U.S. on Sunday and is scheduled to meet with members of Congress, think tanks, overseas Taiwanese communities, and government officials to discuss Taiwan-U.S. relations, regional security, technological cooperation, and economic development.

The delegation is expected to return to Taiwan on Friday on EVA Air's inaugural direct flight from Washington to Taipei.