President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation from the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission June 25 at the Presidential Office in Taipei City, expressing appreciation to its members for reaffirming that the U.S. stands with Taiwan, and conveying his hope of continued backing from the U.S. Congress-established body.
According to Lai, Taiwan is deeply grateful for USCC’s longstanding support. The president said the commission’s recommendations to Congress have strengthened bilateral cooperation, Lai said, citing as an example the Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act passed in April, which will help bolster Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities.
The USCC has long paid close attention to security in East Asia, Lai said, adding that Taiwan’ s security is key to regional security and global peace and prosperity in the face of authoritarian expansion.
Lai went on to say that China undermines regional stability through economic coercion, cognitive warfare and gray zone aggression, as well as by stepping up its military operations around the Taiwan Strait and in the South China Sea. Taiwan will continue to maintain the cross-strait and Indo-Pacific status quo, he added, urging the international community not to allow Beijing to decide where to draw the red line.
In addition, the president thanked the Biden administration and the current Congress for their support in advancing the Taiwan-U.S. Initiative on 21st-Century Trade to boost global supply chain security and Taiwan’s economic resilience. A delegation of industry leaders assembled by the Ministry of Economic Affairs was exploring more economic collaboration opportunities at SelectUSA Investment Summit, he added.
In response, USCC Chair Robin Cleveland said that all commission members are staunch supporters of a strong relationship with Taiwan. The current visit aims to further deepen the bilateral ties, boost economic and trade partnerships and support Lai as he takes on a more aggressive China, she added. (YCH-E)
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