President Tsai Ing-wen said Oct. 16 that the government is bolstering Taiwan’s resilience and strengthening ties with the U.S. by defending freedom, democracy and human rights while upholding shared values and beliefs.
 
The government is rock solid in this commitment to the 23 million people of Taiwan, Tsai said. Such an undertaking is key to cultivating cooperation and support from like-minded countries around the world, she added.
 
Tsai made the remarks while meeting with Thomas A. Daschle, chair of Washington-headquartered think tank Center for American Progress, at the Office of the President in Taipei City.
 
Daschle, a former U.S. senator for South Dakota, is in Taiwan Oct. 14-18 at the head of a fact-finding delegation. Its members include Rebecca Brocato, director of strategy at government affairs at Washington-based think tank National Security Action; Kristie Kenney, ex-counselor of the U.S. Department of State and ambassador to Ecuador, the Philippines and Thailand; and Michael Fuchs, senior fellow at CAP and former deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs.
 
According to Tsai, the U.S. is Taiwan’s most important strategic and trade partner, with bilateral ties going from strength to strength over the past two years. This healthy state of affairs is illustrated by bipartisan support on Capitol Hill, and also forms the cornerstone of advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific, she said.
 
A prime example of this robust relationship is the Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative (Taipei) Act, Tsai said. Introduced in April by U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner and supported by Sens. Ed Markey, Bob Menendez and Marco Rubio, the bill urges stronger action by the U.S. executive branch in supporting Taiwan’s diplomatic alliances around the world.
 
Tsai said the government and people of Taiwan are deeply appreciative of this backing from the U.S., and she anticipates Daschle’s delegation will assist in further deepening and expanding exchanges across many areas of mutual interest. (SFC-E)

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