President Lai Ching-te received a delegation from the Brookings Institution Aug. 14 at the Presidential Office in Taipei City, reaffirming Taiwan’s commitment to defending democracy and safeguarding peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
According to the president, Taiwan is a crucial link in global democratic value chains and supply chains. He thanked Taiwan’s friends in the government, Congress and think tanks in the U.S. for their staunch and long-standing bipartisan support.
In the face of mounting threats and coercion from China, Taiwan is implementing the Four Pillars of Peace action plan, bolstering national defense capabilities, enhancing economic security and working alongside the U.S. and other like-minded partners, Lai said, adding that he unveiled 17 response strategies to fortify national security in March this year.
The president said that in response to changes in the international economic and trade order, Taiwan will continue to strengthen mutually beneficial economic and trade relations with the U.S., including fast-tracking negotiations on reciprocal tariffs and an agreement to address double taxation.
In response, Ryan Hass, director of the John L. Thornton China Center and head of the delegation, said the visit reflects a long-term investment by Brookings to deepen policy on and public awareness of Taiwan issues, adding that he anticipates many more years of such visits as exchanges expand.
Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim also received the delegation at the PO the same day. She thanked the Washington, D.C.-based think tank for its continuous interest in Taiwan. She said Taiwan has a healthy, open and competitive political system, adding that the government will continue to empower the next generation to safeguard democratic values. (SFC-E)
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