U.S. Statements on Taiwan Presidential Election

OT0802E | Date: 2008-03-25

The White House, the U.S. Department of State, and the American Institute in Taiwan  March 22 issued the following statements on Taiwan's presidential election.

STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH ON TAIWAN'S ELECTION
THE WHITE HOUSE

I congratulate the people of Taiwan on the successful conclusion of their March 22 presidential election. Once again, Taiwan has demonstrated the strength and vitality of its democracy. I also congratulate Mr. Ma Ying-jeou on his victory.

Taiwan is a beacon of democracy to Asia and the world. I am confident that the election and the democratic process it represents will advance Taiwan as a prosperous, secure, and well-governed society.

It falls to Taiwan and Beijing to build the essential foundations for peace and stability by pursuing dialogue through all available means and refraining from unilateral steps that would alter the cross-Strait situation. I believe the election provides a fresh opportunity for both sides to reach out and engage one another in peacefully resolving their differences.

The maintenance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the welfare of the people on Taiwan remain of profound importance to the United States. We will continue to maintain close unofficial ties with the people on Taiwan through the American Institute in Taiwan in accordance with our longstanding one-China policy, our three Joint Communiqué with the People's Republic of China, and the Taiwan Relations Act.

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TAIWAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
STATE DEPARTMENT PRESS STATEMENT
SEAN MCCORMACK

The United States congratulates Mr. Ma Ying-jeou on his victory in today's elections on Taiwan. Taiwan has held a free and fair election. The people on Taiwan should be proud of this milestone in their democracy. We look forward to working with Taiwan's new leaders to ensure that the vibrancy in our economic and people-to-people relationship is maintained.

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AIT CONGRATULATES MA YING-JEOU ON HIS VICTORY

The American Institute in Taiwan congratulates Ma Ying-jeou on his victory in the 2008 Taiwan presidential election. We look forward to working with the new president. We also express our admiration to the people of Taiwan for their enthusiastic dedication to the democratic process, and to the candidates from both tickets for a hard-fought but orderly campaign.