President Tsai Ing-wen took part in The Heritage Foundation’s livestreamed special policy dialogue Taiwan-U.S. An Enduring Partnership in the Indo-Pacific March 28 during her stopover in Hawaii.
The government’s approach to the Indo-Pacific centers on three core principles: democracy, regional prosperity and collective security, Tsai said. Taiwan is willing and able to work closely with like-minded countries committed to preserving rules-based order at the heart of the region’s prosperity since World War II, she added.
Hosted by Heritage President Kay Coles James, the dialogue also featured panelists Edwin J. Feulner, founder and former president of the think tank, and U.S. lawmakers Sen. Cory Gardner and Rep. Ted Yoho.
According to Tsai, the government is pursuing a more aggressive and forceful approach to defending Taiwan’s hard-earned freedom. This ensures the country remains a beacon of democracy and negates pressure from China to accept a “one country, two systems” model, she said.
At the same time, the government is stepping up efforts to align Taiwan with like-minded partners facing similar challenges, Tsai said, citing the recent International Training Workshop on Anti-Corruption in Public and Private Sectors staged by Taiwan, the U.S. and Japan in Taipei City under the Global Cooperation Training Framework, as well as the Indo-Pacific Democratic Governance Consultation launched with the U.S. earlier in the month.
Tsai said Taiwan is determined to play a greater role in fostering regional prosperity through trade, investment and respect for rule of law. This is why the government is working to secure the country’s participation in regional trade blocs such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, she added.
Although Taiwan is battling a campaign of coercion by China, Tsai said the government will not waver in its pragmatic and responsible approach to cross-strait relations defined by coexistence instead of confrontation and reconciliation instead of conflict.
China has seized every opportunity to alter the cross-strait status quo by attempting to undermine Taiwan’s democratic institutions, heighten military tensions and reduce the country’s international space, Tsai said. This situation underscores the need to strengthen self-defense capabilities and make sure Taiwan’s 23 million people continue to enjoy freedom, democracy and an enviable way of life.
Tsai landed in Hawaii the day before after wrapping up her eight-day Oceans of Democracy 2019 Presidential Visit to three of Taiwan’s Pacific allies: Palau, Nauru and the Marshall Islands. She was greeted onboard the presidential charter by James F. Moriarty, chairman of the American Institute in Taiwan, and Stanley Kao, head of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S.
After deplaning, Tsai was honored with a dinner banquet organized by Taiwan expatriates in Honolulu. Others in attendance included Moriarty, former AIT Chairman Raymond F. Burghardt, former U.S. Ambassador and Senior Official to Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Lauren K. Moriarty and Hawaii House Speaker Scott Saiki.
Tsai, who is scheduled to return in the evening of March 28, will hold a news conference upon touching down at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. (SFC-E)
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