ANNUAL REPORT

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comparative advantage, and sustaining this advantage is an important
driving force shaping the future of the region. . . . The U.S. and
Taiwan could deepen and broaden their economic relationship by
expanding [science and technology] cooperation. Additionally,
[science and technology] cooperation could help Taiwan maintain
its technological advantage and produce mutually beneficial innovations.’’
264 In March, at an event at the George Washington University,
Mr. Shriver suggested that the United States consider expanding
the U.S.-Taiwan Global Cooperation and Training Framework
to include other like-minded countries, such as Australia,
Japan, and India, among the trainers and to include training in
areas such as antipiracy and counterterrorism. 265
Scholars in Taiwan told the Commission that humanitarian assistance
and disaster relief and search and rescue are areas with
great potential for expanded U.S.-Taiwan cooperation. They said
that Taiwan has very capable humanitarian assistance and disaster
relief and search and rescue forces and pointed out that the
second-largest humanitarian assistance and disaster relief training
center in East Asia is in Taiwan. 266 One example of U.S.-Taiwan
cooperation in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief occurred
in 2010 when a Taiwan Air Force transport aircraft landed in the
United States to refuel during its flight to deliver relief supplies to
Haiti following a major earthquake. 267 The previous year, after Typhoon
Morakot hit Taiwan, the U.S. military assisted with the recovery
effort by transporting construction vehicles and equipment
and relief supplies to the affected areas. 268
Implications for the United States
Taiwan’s presidential and legislative elections in January 2016
once again demonstrated the vibrancy of its democracy and the
common values that are one of the pillars of U.S.-Taiwan relations.
The elections also demonstrated that Taiwan is a model for other
countries in the region and around the world. As Kurt Tong, principal
deputy assistant secretary in the Department of State’s Bureau
of Economic and Business Affairs, explained in a speech about
Taiwan in March 2016, ‘‘Taiwan’s evolution into a robust democracy,
and a strong free market economy, with a vibrant civil society,
make it a model for others.’’ 269
Taiwan’s robust democracy, civil society, and technology sector,
and its vast expertise and experience in various areas, such as humanitarian
assistance and disaster relief, make it a strong partner
for the United States in facing global challenges. As the United
States seeks to engage in capacity building in the Asia Pacific, Taiwan
is assisting with these efforts through the Global Cooperation
and Training Framework.
Taiwan also is a contributor to regional peace and stability
through its efforts to promote the setting aside of territorial disputes
and joint resource development in the East and South China
seas. Two examples of this policy are the fisheries agreements that
Taiwan signed in recent years with Japan and the Philippines, respectively.
Other actions by Taiwan that support U.S. objectives of
rule of law and peaceful resolution of disputes include taking steps
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