WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and U.S. Representative Michael McCaul (R-Texas), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today released the following statement on Nicaragua’s proposal to expel Taiwan as a permanent observer of the Central American Parliament (PARLACEN) and invite China:
“Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan has been one of the five permanent observers of the PARLACEN since 1999. Taiwan’s participation contributes to PARLACEN’s efforts towards democratic governance, peace, and integration in the region," the lawmakers said. “We are deeply concerned about a proposal by the dictator from Nicaragua to expel Taiwan and invite the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to join PARLACEN as an observer. The presence of the CCP would make a mockery of the founding principles of the PARLACEN and the democratic aspirations of the people of its member countries.
“We urge all members of PARLACEN committed to democratic development to consider the negative impact it would have for our shared continent if China is allowed to gain a foothold in PARLACEN."