President Lai Ching-te said Dec. 5 that Taiwan is committed to reforming national defense and enhancing whole-of-society resilience while supporting Taiwan-U.S. industrial engagement and deepening cooperation with like-minded partners to uphold the values of freedom and democracy.
Lai made the remarks while receiving a delegation from New York City-based think tank National Committee on American Foreign Policy led by its president and CEO, Susan Elliott, at the Presidential Office in Taipei City.
Taiwan is a mature democracy, a responsible security partner and an important part of global governance, Lai said, adding that maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific and advancing international development are unwavering goals. The president noted that only through unity can democracies weather the challenges of authoritarian expansion and only strength can bring peace.
Taiwan will continue to bolster its national defense capabilities, Lai said, citing an eight-year, US$40 billion supplementary defense budget proposed last week for military procurement from the U.S., indigenous defense programs and reinforcement of Taiwan’s asymmetric capabilities. The country aims to increase defense spending to over 3 percent of its gross domestic product next year and reach 5 percent by 2030, he added.
The president thanked successive U.S. administrations for fulfilling their commitment to Taiwan in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances. He also expressed gratitude to the U.S. Congress for its longstanding bipartisan support of Taiwan, including the recent passage of the Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act, which has already been signed into law by U.S. President Donald Trump.
In response, Elliot thanked Lai for his warm welcome and hospitality. She added that the current trip aims to discuss issues of common interest, including regional security and prosperity and the relationship between the peoples of both sides. (YCH-E)
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