President Tsai Ing-wen said March 27 that strong Taiwan-U.S. ties and enhanced cooperation between the two sides are key to advancing peace, prosperity and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
Taiwan and the U.S. enjoy longstanding relations deeply rooted in shared values, Tsai said. It is expected this close friendship will further strengthen on the basis of expanded interactions in areas of mutual concern, she added.
Tsai made the remarks while receiving U.S. Rep. Ed Royce at the Office of the President in Taipei City. The chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs is visiting March 26-28 to discuss issues spanning economic and security cooperation with government officials and lawmakers.
In addition, Royce will be presented with the Medal of Honor for Parliamentary Diplomacy by Legislative Yuan President Su Jia-chyuan in recognition of his extensive contributions to Taiwan-U.S. ties. This is Royce’s sixth official trip to Taiwan and possibly his last before finishing in January 2019 as a 13-term representative for the 39th and 40th districts of California.
According to Tsai, Royce is a firm friend of Taiwan and his tireless efforts in championing legislative support for the country are sincerely appreciated by the government and the people. The Taiwan Travel Act exemplifies this backing and paves the way for more high-level exchanges and collaboration, she said.
Signed into law March 16, the act states that it should be the policy of the U.S. to authorize officials at all levels to travel to Taiwan to meet with their counterparts and allow high-level officials from Taiwan to enter the U.S. under conditions that demonstrate appropriate respect for the dignity of such officials.
Another example of Royce’s support is the recently launched daily direct flight from Taipei to Ontario in California by Taiwan’s China Airlines. He was instrumental in getting this service off the ground, Tsai said, adding that in conjunction with Taiwan’s participation in the U.S. Global Entry program, it will create additional economic, cultural and tourism opportunities for both sides.
Tsai said during Royce’s previous visit to Taiwan in September 2017, it was her privilege to award him the Order of Brilliant Star with Special Grand Cordon for his contributions to advancing bilateral relations and backing the country’s international participation. It is hoped he will return frequently and consider Taiwan his second home, she added. (KWS-E)
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