President Tsai Ing-wen said June 28 that Taiwan is committed to working with the U.S. in areas such as the economy and national defense to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
Tsai made the remarks while meeting with a delegation led by Rep. Mike Rogers, chair of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee at the Presidential Office in Taipei City. The nine-member group is the largest congressional delegation to Taiwan in recent years.
The president first thanked the U.S. Congress for its longstanding bipartisan support of Taiwan’s security, citing the National Defense Authorization Act advanced by delegation members every year. The NDAA incorporates policies and initiatives to aid Taiwan as it bolsters its self-defense capabilities and plays a key role in maintaining regional security, she added.
According to Tsai, the signing of the first agreement under the Taiwan-U.S. Initiative on 21st-Century Trade earlier this month marks a milestone in the two countries’ trade relations. She added that she hopes to address the issue of double taxation in order to foster closer exchanges in investment and industry.
In response, Rogers said Taiwan and the U.S. have had a long and important friendship. The like-minded partners share a commitment to democracy, the rule of law, and a free and open Indo-Pacific, he said, stressing the unwavering support of his group’s members for Taiwan. (YCH-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw