Press Release from the Office of U.S. Congressman Eni F.H. Faleomavaega, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs' Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and the Global Environment

PR0775E | Date: 2007-12-06

On December 6, U.S. Congressman Eni F.H. Faleomavaega, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs' Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and the Global Environment, met with President Chen Shui-bian in Taipei, Taiwan.  In a meeting that lasted well over an hour, they discussed a full range of issues affecting U.S.-Taiwan relations.

Congressman Faleomavaega stated to President Chen that the U.S. is very aware of the ongoing sensitivities across the Taiwan Strait and reiterated U.S. concerns about the UN referendum issue.  Faleomavaega also stated that the Taiwan Relations Act is the basis of our relationship.

He praised Taiwan's democratic progress and prosperity and stated that Taiwan's democracy could serve as an example for the region.  He reaffirmed the U.S.'s respect for Taiwan's democratic process and stated that he looks forward to working with whomever the people of Taiwan choose as their next president.

Congressman Faleomavaega, who represents the U.S. Territory of American Samoa in the U.S. Congress, also discussed the importance of the fishing industry among Pacific island nations, noting that American Samoa has the largest tuna canning operations in the world, second only to Bangkok. U.S. companies Chicken of the Sea and Starkist, which have canning operations in American Samoa, send about US$500 million worth of canned tuna to the U.S. market annually.

On Sunday, December 9, in Kaohsiung, Congressman Faleomavaega will participate in a ceremony launching a new Taiwan-built tuna boat commissioned by a U.S. company to fish in Pacific waters.