President Tsai receives high-level US congressional delegation

2022/04/19

Taiwan is committed to playing an active role in the new U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy while working with like-minded partners to safeguard peace, stability and prosperity throughout the Indo-Pacific, according to President Tsai Ing-wen April 15.
 
Tsai made the remarks while receiving a high-level US congressional delegation led by Sen. Lindsey Graham, ranking member of the Senate Committee on the Budget. The group also comprised Sen. Robert Menendez, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina; Sen. Robert Portman, ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee; Sen. Benjamin Sasse of Nebraska; and Representative Ronny Jackson of Texas’ 13th district.
 
Taiwan and the U.S. have worked together to promote regional democracy, good governance and respect for human rights, Tsai said. This is evidenced by mechanisms such as the Taiwan-U.S. Global Cooperation and Training Framework and the U.S.-Taiwan Consultations on Democratic Governance over the past few years, she added.
 
According to Tsai, as this year marks the 43rd anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, the bipartisan group’s visit is an especially significant mark of deep bilateral relations. The country looks forward to working with the U.S. to stimulate prosperity through advancing economic cooperation and trade in the Indo-Pacific, she said.
 
Tsai also took the opportunity to thank the delegation members for their long-standing support of Taiwan in the U.S. Congress and for their proactive efforts in the development of two-way ties.
 
In response, Graham praised Taiwan’s assistance to the people of Ukraine. America would stand with Taiwan, he said, adding that to abandon the country would be to abandon freedom and democracy.
 
Following Graham’s remarks, Menendez said Taiwan produces 90 percent of the world’s high-end semiconductor products and is of great global significance. The country’s security is crucial to the world and deserves support from the U.S., he said.
 
Burr pointed out that Taiwan is an integral part of global supply chains while Portman said the U.S. should include the country in its Indo-Pacific Economic Framework and kick-start a free trade agreement with Taiwan. 


Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)