[Epoch Times, June 26, 2021](The Epoch Times reporter Zhong Yuan reported in Taipei) Gu Liyan, deputy director of the American Association in Taiwan (AIT), is leaving his post. He recently stated that the US-Taiwan relations have undergone fundamental changes and that Taiwan will not It is again regarded as a “problem” in US-China relations, but as a beacon that illuminates the democratic world. In response, Zhao Lijian, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Communist Party of China, jumped again.
The three-year term of Li Yingjie and Gu Liyan, the chief and deputy directors of AIT, will expire. Taiwan’s son-in-law, Gu Liyan, will be the acting US ambassador to Japan. On June 24, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China Wu Zhaoxie presented Li Yingjie’s “Special Diplomacy Medal” and Gu Liyan’s “Friendship Diplomacy Medal” at the Taipei Hotel to commend their contributions to promoting Taiwan-US relations during their tenure.
In his speech, Gu Liyan said that it was almost exactly 19 years ago that he was assigned to work at AIT for the first time. At that time, his working partner in the North American Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was the current Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Zeng Houren; at that time he was also responsible for liaison with the Presidential Palace, and he was also with the energetic and eloquent Deputy Secretary-General at the time. Wu Zhaoxie quickly established a friendship.
Gu Liyan said that he is very happy to return to Taiwan after many years to work with old friends again. However, the interaction between the United States and Taiwan in the past three years is quite different from his experience many years ago. He said that when he first cooperated with Minister Wu and Deputy Secretary Zeng, “All our discussions and actions will eventually return to the framework of cross-strait relations and what role Taiwan should play in the relationship between the United States and China.”
“Looking at the present, in the past three years,” Gu Liyan said, their work has focused heavily on how to deepen the bilateral relationship between the United States and Taiwan, and how to help other countries develop their economic and democratic systems through joint cooperation. He has not counted how many times. In many meetings between him and Director Li and his Taiwanese working partners, the word “China (the Communist Party)” never appeared.
Gu Liyan pointed out that this actually reflects a fundamental change in US-Taiwan relations. The United States no longer sees Taiwan as a “problem” in US-China relations. Instead, it sees it as an opportunity to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region, which is the common vision of the United States and Taiwan. It is also an opportunity to illuminate people from all walks of life in pursuing a more just. , Security, prosperity and a beacon of a democratic world.
He said that this allows them to concentrate on building a safe and resilient supply chain through the “U.S.-Taiwan Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue”; and through the “Global Cooperation and Training Framework” (GCTF) to strengthen international law enforcement and public health ; And through the “International Environmental Partnership Program” (IEP), to meet the challenges of climate change together.
“President Biden has recently emphasized the maritime patrol partnership between the United States and Taiwan,” Gu Liyan said, “because this not only protects our threatened marine environment, but also enhances regional security.” In addition, they also allowed hundreds of teachers and students from both sides to communicate with each other through the “Taiwan-US Education Initiative.” This kind of cooperation is one of the many reasons why AIT and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been so busy in the past three years.
Gu Liyan said that for the cooperation between the United States and Taiwan, there are two time points that are the most tense but also the most fulfilling. The first time was last spring. When the United States was hit by the first wave of new crown pneumonia (Chinese Communist virus) epidemic, Taiwan gave the United States millions of masks and other medical supplies, and all the supplies were handed over to AIT’s warehouse in Neihu. Handling transshipment.
He said that the second time was a few weeks ago, the United States and Taiwan worked together to deliver 2.5 million doses of Modena vaccine to Taiwan at a time when Taiwan was most in need of help. Thanks to the cooperation between AIT and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs team day and night, “We were able to successfully complete these two major tasks, and when performing the tasks, everyone was proud of their ability to lend a helping hand to their friends.”
“I will leave Taiwan next week and go to Japan to take up my post,” Gu Liyan said, but fortunately, this does not mean that his connection with the US-Taiwan relationship will come to an end. In fact, he is looking forward to contributing to the thriving tripartite partnership between the United States, Japan and Taiwan in the future. He will miss all his friends and partners in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and AIT. He is particularly fortunate to be able to join Director Li Yingjie’s team for him in the past three years.
“Chief Li is the same as me,” Gu Liyan said. They all appreciate and love Taiwan and the people of Taiwan, and they all share the same enthusiasm for US-Taiwan relations. “For me, there will be no better supervisor, mentor and helpful friend than him in this world.” “Minister Wu, thank you again for giving me this honor. On behalf of our teams, I accept this honor for their hard work and many achievements in enhancing the relationship between the United States and Taiwan.”
On the 25th, when Zhao Lijian was asked at a regular press conference on the 25th that Gu Liyan believed that “the US-Taiwan relations have undergone a fundamental change and the United States is Taiwan’s most important international supporter”, he expressed opposition to relevant US remarks and also opposed any form of US-Taiwan. Official contacts.
Editor in charge: Lin Yan#
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