President Tsai Ing-wen said Aug. 15 that the government is committed to strengthening cooperation with the U.S. to ensure stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.
Taiwan is working to bolster economic cooperation with international friends like the U.S. who share democratic values, Tsai said. Playing a part in the process are mechanisms such as the inaugural meeting of the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade in June and prospective high-standard trade and avoidance of double taxation agreements, she added.
Tsai made the remarks while receiving a U.S. congressional delegation led by Senator Ed Markey, chair of the Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Other members of the group include Rep. John Garamendi, Rep. Alan Lowenthal, Rep. Don Beyer and Rep. Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen.
According to Tsai, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine highlights the threat authoritarian nations pose to the global order, while China’s prolonged military exercises in the waters surrounding Taiwan have gravely affected regional peace and stability. Taiwan is committed to ensuring stability and maintaining the status quo across the strait, she said.
Tsai took the opportunity to thank Markey for his staunch support of Taiwan, including his vote to pass the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act and assistance in acquiring COVID-19 vaccines for the country last year.
In response, Markey described Taiwan as a beacon of democracy, human rights, and free speech in a region where many who stand up for those universal values are targeted every day. The country has been a leader in the fight against COVID-19 and has become a global technology and manufacturing powerhouse, particularly in semiconductors, he said, adding that the entire world benefits from Taiwan's expertise and leadership. (DL-E)
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