President Tsai Ing-wen said July 19 that the government is committed to deepening ties with the U.S., Europe and other democratic partners to ensure peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.
Taiwan is working to achieve this goal by deepening economic and trade cooperation among global democracies, Tsai said. Mechanisms set to play a part in the process include the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade, Trade and Investment Framework Agreement meetings, Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue and the EU’s Global Gateway initiative, she added.
Tsai made the remarks while receiving a delegation from Washington-based think tank Atlantic Council. Led by Mark Esper, former U.S. secretary of defense, the group includes Stefano Stefanini, ex-advisor to the president of Italy, and AC Senior Vice President Barry Pavel.
According to Tsai, recent global challenges stemming from the pandemic, as well as authoritarian expansionism and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, highlight the need for democratic partners to strengthen alliances in jointly defending freedom, peace and democracy. The latest communique issued by the leaders of Group of Seven also reiterates the importance of this approach by focusing on the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, she said.
Tsai took the opportunity to thank the U.S. for upholding its security commitments to the country in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances. The visit of the Atlantic Council further demonstrates the care and concern of the U.S. and Europe for Taiwan, she said.
In response, Esper described Taiwan as a thriving democracy with a robust economy and freedom-loving people on the front lines of a great power competition. It is important for Western democracies to stand up and defend such countries against the bullying of autocrats, he said. (DL-E)
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