4名美國共和黨人呼籲川普撥放台灣安全援助資金

派翠西亞・曾格勒報導By Patricia Zengerle

華盛頓，9月23日（路透社）——美國總統唐納・川普準備迎接中國國家主席習近平到華盛頓進行3天訪問之際，4名與川普同屬共和黨的議員週三呼籲他的政府，撥放超過150億美元遭擱置的台灣國家安全援助資金。WASHINGTON, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Four of US President Donald Trump's fellow Republicans called on his administration on Wednesday to release more than $15 billion in stalled national security assistance for Taiwan, as he prepared to welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping for a three-day visit to Washington.

知情消息人士告訴路透社，習近平預計將在訪問華盛頓期間，敦促川普全面停止對台軍售。Xi is expected to press Trump to halt Taiwan arms sales altogether during his visit to Washington, sources briefed on the matter told Reuters.

來自肯塔基州的美國參議員、前參院多數黨領袖米奇・麥康奈，德州參議員約翰・柯寧，阿拉斯加州參議員麗莎・穆考斯基，以及北卡羅來納州參議員湯姆・提利斯，致函國務卿馬可・盧比歐與國防部長彼得・赫格塞斯，表達對這筆資金的關切。US Senators Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the former Senate majority leader, John Cornyn of Texas, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Thom Tillis of North Carolina wrote to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth expressing concern about the funds.

信中指出，國務院未能推進國會為台灣撥列的3億美元對外軍事融資，國防部未能承諾動支10億美元，而政府也決定暫不批准一項對台灣價值140億美元的對外軍售案。The letter cites the State Department's failure to move ahead with $300 million in foreign military financing Congress appropriated for Taiwan, the Defense Department's failure to obligate $1 billion and the administration's decision to withhold approval for a $14 billion package of foreign military sales to the island.

信中說：「川普總統在與習近平及中國共產黨接觸時，將台灣形容為『非常好的談判籌碼』，我們對此感到憂心。」"We are concerned by President Trump's description of Taiwan as 'a very good negotiating chip' in engagements with Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party," the letter said.

信中說：「如果維持外交場面的代價，是拒絕給予我們的夥伴關鍵威懾能力，那麼很難想像美國如何能在印太地區可信地展現影響力與威懾力。」"It is difficult to imagine how the United States might credibly project influence deterrence in the Indo-Pacific if the price of keeping up diplomatic appearances is denying our partners key deterrent capabilities," the letter said.

美國國務院與國防部未立即回應針對這封信的採訪請求。The State and Defense departments did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the letter.

盧比歐在紐約對記者談話時，被問及對台軍售。他表示，政府必須平衡更廣泛的需求。Rubio, speaking to reporters in New York and asked about Taiwan arms sales, said the administration had to balance broader needs.

他說：「我知道所有人都聚焦台灣，但我希望你們暫時從全球角度來看。如果我們賣給你們某樣東西，我們自己就不再擁有它。現在，我們未來或許能製造出來，但我們現在手上沒有。」"I know everyone's focused on Taiwan, but I want you to focus globally for a moment. If we sell you something, we don't have it anymore. Now, we may be able to make it in the future, but we don't have it right now," he said.

中國將台灣視為首要優先議題CHINA VIEWS TAIWAN AS TOP PRIORITY

中國經常將台灣問題描述為其最敏感且最重要的外交議題；北京方面將台灣視為自身領土，並一再呼籲停止對台軍售。美國依法有義務提供台灣自我防衛所需手段。China regularly ‌describes the issue of Taiwan, which Beijing views as its own territory, as its most sensitive and important diplomatic issue, and has repeatedly called for arms sales to stop. The US is bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself.

川普政府去年12月批准對台灣一項110億美元軍售案，為史上最大規模。不過，第二項價值約140億美元的軍售案已被擱置數月。The Trump administration in December approved an $11 billion arms package to Taiwan, the largest ever. However, a second package, worth some $14 billion, has been on hold for months.

川普在5月於北京與習近平舉行峰會後表示，他正暫緩處理該案，並形容這是「非常好的談判籌碼」。After a May summit in Beijing with Xi, Trump said he was holding it in abeyance and described it as a "very good negotiating chip."

川普在國會的共和黨同志很少公開質疑其政府作為。週三簽署這封信的4名參議員中，有3人——麥康奈、柯寧與提利斯——將於今年底離開參議院，只有穆考斯基會留任。Trump's fellow Republicans in Congress rarely question his administration's actions publicly. Three of the senators who signed Wednesday's letter — McConnell, Cornyn and Tillis — are leaving the Senate at the end of this year, with only Murkowski remaining.

（派翠西亞・曾格勒報導；班・布蘭查德台北補充報導；比爾・伯克羅特與史蒂芬・科茨編輯）(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Editing by Bill Berkrot and Stephen Coates)