Former U.S. Vice President Richard B. Cheney is in Taiwan for a four-day visit at the invitation of the Republic of China (Taiwan) government, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Set to deliver the keynote speech at the 2017 Asia-Pacific Security Dialogue Aug. 8 in Taipei City, Cheney will also meet with several senior government officials for exchanges on Taiwan-U.S. relations and regional trade and security issues during his time in country. Other attendees at the one-day dialogue include President Tsai Ing-wen and MOFA Minister David Tawei Lee.
Cheney, a longstanding friend of the country, voted for the Taiwan Relations Act while serving as a congressman from 1979 to 1989. He also supported the sale of several large-scale weapons packages to Taiwan as vice president in the administration of President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009.
According to the MOFA, Cheney’s second trip follows his first in 1993 and is testament to the strength of Taiwan-U.S. relations.
Cheney, who boasts a career in public service spanning four decades, is widely regarded as an expert in defense, energy and the Middle East. He was chief of staff under the late President Gerald Ford from 1975 to 1977 and secretary of defense under President George H. W. Bush from 1989 to 1993. (SFC-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw