WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Lance Gooden, in a second letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, renewed his call for the Biden administration to extend a formal invitation to President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan to participate in the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' summit in San Francisco.
Rep. Gooden demanded a plan of action regarding Taiwan’s full participation in APEC, emphasizing Taiwan's status as an APEC member in good standing and deserving of the equal treatment other members receive.
The Congressman also highlighted recent strides made in U.S.-Taiwan trade relations, such as the groundbreaking U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade launched in June 2022. He stressed the importance of honoring these bilateral commitments and the risk of undermining this progress by not inviting President Tsai Ing-wen to the summit.
Rep. Gooden warned of the increasing hostility from the Chinese Communist Party towards Taiwan, reminding the administration that consistent objections from Beijing have prevented Taiwan’s president from attending APEC summits in the past.
"Denying Taiwan's full participation in APEC will only strengthen the CCP's resolve and jeopardize our mission of ensuring peace and stability in the region," Gooden stated.
This letter was co-signed by 24 Republican members of Congress: Michael McCaul (TX), Gus Bilirakis (FL), Tom Tiffany (WI), Andy Ogles (TN), Bill Johnson (OH), Jake Ellzey (TX), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA), Scott DesJarlais (TN), Russell Fry (SC), John Rose (TN), Burgess Owens (UT), Michael Guest (MS), Keith Self (TX), George Santos (NY), Ralph Norman (SC), Chris Smith (NJ), Brian Babin (TX) Jake LaTurner (KS), Guy Reschenthaler (PA), Cory Mills (FL), Dan Newhouse (WA), John Duarte (CA), Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (GA), and Larry Bucshon (IN).
Read the full letter here.
Rep. Gooden demanded a plan of action regarding Taiwan’s full participation in APEC, emphasizing Taiwan's status as an APEC member in good standing and deserving of the equal treatment other members receive.
The Congressman also highlighted recent strides made in U.S.-Taiwan trade relations, such as the groundbreaking U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade launched in June 2022. He stressed the importance of honoring these bilateral commitments and the risk of undermining this progress by not inviting President Tsai Ing-wen to the summit.
Rep. Gooden warned of the increasing hostility from the Chinese Communist Party towards Taiwan, reminding the administration that consistent objections from Beijing have prevented Taiwan’s president from attending APEC summits in the past.
"Denying Taiwan's full participation in APEC will only strengthen the CCP's resolve and jeopardize our mission of ensuring peace and stability in the region," Gooden stated.
This letter was co-signed by 24 Republican members of Congress: Michael McCaul (TX), Gus Bilirakis (FL), Tom Tiffany (WI), Andy Ogles (TN), Bill Johnson (OH), Jake Ellzey (TX), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA), Scott DesJarlais (TN), Russell Fry (SC), John Rose (TN), Burgess Owens (UT), Michael Guest (MS), Keith Self (TX), George Santos (NY), Ralph Norman (SC), Chris Smith (NJ), Brian Babin (TX) Jake LaTurner (KS), Guy Reschenthaler (PA), Cory Mills (FL), Dan Newhouse (WA), John Duarte (CA), Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (GA), and Larry Bucshon (IN).
Read the full letter here.