Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)

On the afternoon of April 26, President Tsai Ing-wen, accompanied by President Alejandro Eduardo Giammattei Falla of the Republic of Guatemala, attended the opening ceremony for a month-long celebration of Guatemalan coffee culture and invited the Taiwanese people to taste and experience Guatemalan coffee culture.  Upon arriving at the event, President Tsai and President Giammattei visited the Guatemalan coffee culture showroom and listened to Guatemalan Minister of the Economy Janio Moacyr Rosales Alegría introduce Guatemalan Sello Blanco (white-label) coffee and the art objects on display, and viewed a short video promoting Guatemalan coffee. Wu Yi-ling (吳怡玲), vice president of the Taiwan Coffee Association, then provided information on the three coffees chosen for the showroom and explained the concepts behind its design. President Giammattei described the Sello Blanco program, saying that it is the only such label in the world to be issued by a country that also signifies the fight against poverty. When people see it, he said, they know it represents disadvantaged populations, families, and ethnic groups who are diligently working to lift themselves out of economic hardship. President Giammattei explained that purchasing white label products thus means helping those people escape poverty faster so that the nation as a whole can prosper. President Giammattei noted that purchasing Sello Blanco coffee is meaningful in two ways: First, consumers can take home the best coffees in the world and savor Guatemala's most fragrant beans. Second, each consumer can bear a portion of the social responsibility in helping impoverished families move past poverty. Guatemala has therefore chosen its best friend and ally, Taiwan, as the first stop in promoting the Sello Blanco program, he added. Saying that this is a first step in preventing and eradicating poverty, President Giammattei expressed gratitude to Taiwan for giving them the chance to begin realizing their dream here. President Tsai and President Giammattei then sat down for a tasting of Guatemalan Anacafé 14 coffee brewed by 2017 World Brewers Cup champion Chad Wang (王策), who demonstrated pour-over techniques. They also viewed two works of latte art representing our respective countries, "Formosan Black Bear" and "Guatemalan Resplendent Quetzal," crafted on site by 2019 World Latte Art championship second-place winner Chen Hao-yuan (陳顥元), who also explained the meaning behind his art. Following the tasting, President Tsai and President Giammattei participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a coffee truck promoting Guatemalan coffee. The truck will tour Taiwan through June 4, stopping in multiple locations to spread the coffee culture of Guatemala. President Giammattei thanked Taiwan for giving his delegation a chance, through this visit, to get closer to Asia, and he explained once again the significance of the Sello Blanco program. He expressed his hope that the program will help more of his fellow citizens overcome difficult circumstances. He also gave a special thanks to President Tsai, the Taiwan Coffee Association, and King Car Group for their support and assistance, and voiced his confidence that everyone will be enjoying the very best coffee.  The Guatemalan coffee culture showroom, opened under the joint efforts of the Guatemalan government and the Taiwan Coffee Association, will run for six weeks in the Mr. Brown Coffee shop located near the National Taipei University of Technology campus. The showroom offers coffees from three of Guatemala's major growing regions, including Antigua, and gives visitors the chance to see and learn more about the coffee, culture, and art of Guatemala. Among those attending the event were Guatemalan Congressional President Shirley Joanna Rivera Zaldaña, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mario Adolfo Búcaro Flores, Minister of the Economy Rosales, and Guatemala Ambassador Oscar Adolfo Padilla Lam.

On the morning of December 13, President Tsai Ing-wen met with Republic of Nauru President Lionel Aingimea and First Lady Aingimea and witnessed the signing of a bilateral aviation services agreement. President Tsai expressed hope that our diplomatic ties will continue to progress through more collaborative projects. A translation of President Tsai's remarks follows: The Republic of China (Taiwan) and Nauru are both members of the Pacific family. As President Aingimea has stated, our two countries are like family. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the government of Nauru for its friendship and staunch support for Taiwan in the international arena over the years. At the UN General Debate and the recently concluded 25th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP 25), President Aingimea called upon the world to embrace Taiwan and recognize the rights of the Taiwanese people. Today, I want to especially thank President Aingimea for his support. In addition, at these key international events, President Aingimea publicly lauded the contributions that Taiwan has made towards global sustainable development. And indeed, the manner in which ocean countries should pursue sustainable development in the face of the challenges brought by climate change is of great concern for both Taiwan and Nauru. Taiwan is willing and able to collaborate with its partners in the international community and strive to make the world a better place in the spirit of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Nauru is an indispensable partner to Taiwan. We hope to strengthen exchanges and promote mutually beneficial, win-win development between our countries. In addition to moving forward with our current collaborative projects, Taiwan International Ports Corporation will be providing management and personnel training opportunities to Nauru once its new port is completed. Moreover, just last month, Nauru Airlines sent representatives to Taiwan to discuss airline cooperation, such as extending flight routes to Taipei. Hopefully, in the near future, we can establish a flight route connecting our two countries in order to further boost people-to-people exchanges and bring our countries even closer together. Over the years, our two countries have worked to further deepen our cordial relations, and there are a growing number of "friends of Taiwan" in Nauru. Here with us today, Nauru's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Appi is one such person, having once studied at National Pingtung University of Science and Technology. We very much look forward to continuing to enhance our bilateral relations through increased collaboration in the future. In his remarks that followed, President Aingimea stated that Nauru attaches great importance to its relationship with Taiwan, and as he repeatedly said, Taiwan and Nauru are family. Taiwan and Nauru share strong ties, in addition to the assistance Taiwan has provided to Nauru. He also thanked the Taiwanese government for its scholarship programs for Nauru's young people and the affection they have given them for stinky tofu. These kind of people-to-people exchanges have brought Taiwan and Nauru closer together. President Aingimea pointed out that for many years, Taiwan has strongly supported Nauru's infrastructure and economic development. When Nauru experienced a financial crisis in the 1990s, it was Taiwan that helped revive the operation of Nauru Airlines. He stated that we can see who our true friends are during difficult times, for when you are down it is those friends who help you up, an indication of the relationship Taiwan and Nauru have established over the years. President Aingimea then said that he hopes to build on our existing foundation to continue strengthening bilateral relation, and looks forward to a brighter future through Taiwan's continued assistance in Nauru's development through infrastructure, ports, and scholarships. After the meeting, President Tsai witnessed the signing of an aviation services agreement between the two countries by President Aingimea and Taiwan's Minister of Transportation and Communications Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). This agreement will allow the airlines of both sides to fly between Taiwan and Nauru in the future. In addition to helping expand bilateral international routes, this agreement will also help us build an airline network with our Pacific allies, further strengthening economic and cultural exchanges between Taiwan and Nauru. After the signing ceremony, the two heads of state, Taiwan's Foreign and Transportation Ministers, and the respective Ambassadors, raised their glasses in a toast to successful bilateral cooperation. Also present at the event were Minister for Ronphos and Nauru Rehabilitation Corporation Reagan Winson Aliklik and Mrs. Aliklik, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Asterio Appi and Mrs. Appi. The delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office by Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) and Nauru Ambassador to Taiwan Jarden Kephas. Also attending the meeting were Vice President Chien Chen-jen and National Security Council Secretary-General David T. Lee (李大維).

President Tsai Ing-wen's Journey of Freedom, Democracy, and Sustainability continued with a luncheon on the morning of July 15 local time (evening of July 15 Taipei time) at Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park in St. Christopher and Nevis (a.k.a. St. Kitts and Nevis) for local political figures and a Taiwan tourism industry mission. In remarks, the president said she hopes that through mutual exchanges and experience sharing, travel industry firms in both countries will discover business opportunities, and work together to develop tourism and promote sustainable development. The president was greeted upon arrival by Michael Morton (President of the Management Council of Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park and Governor-General's Deputy of St. Christopher and Nevis) and Deputy Prime Minister Shawn Richards. Local school children were also on hand to give her a big welcome. The president and her delegation were then given a guided tour of the park by Percival Hanley, General Manager of the Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park Society. At noon, President Tsai hosted a luncheon at the national park for Prime Minister Timothy Harris and other political figures, as well as the Taiwan tourism industry mission. As they entered the venue, the attendees were entertained by performers on stilts, a traditional local art form. The following is a translation of the president's remarks at the banquet: It is a unique opportunity and a great pleasure to meet with all of you here in Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Tourism has always been key to the development of St. Kitts and Nevis. Now, more than 1.2 million cruise ship passengers are coming here every year, which itself presents a tremendous business opportunity. Taiwan also has a mature tourism sector. To promote the growth and sustainable development of tourism in both our countries, I invited tourism firms in Taiwan to form a delegation to come see St. Kitts and Nevis for themselves, and to exchange experiences and explore opportunities for expansion. This afternoon, the members of our tourism fact-finding delegation will finish their tour and return to Taiwan. I hope that their trip and the connections they made here will help related business in both our countries continue to broaden avenues of cooperation, and introduce the beautiful scenery and traditions of the Caribbean to even more Taiwanese. Of course, we welcome more Kittians and Nevisians to visit Taiwan in the future.  Though not many Taiwanese live in St. Christopher and Nevis, all the members of the Taiwanese community here are highly accomplished in their respective fields, and are committed to giving back to society.  I want to take this opportunity to introduce Mr. Michael Chang (張溎鱗) of Kuang Jun Construction Corporation, who has had remarkable success in the construction industry here. And Ms. Amy Jui Yuan Pen (彭瑞媛), who lives in Sint Maarten as an Advisor to the Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commission (OCAC), has devoted years of service to the Taiwanese community in the Caribbean. Having long worked hand in hand with the Embassy and technical mission here, you and other senior members of the local Taiwanese community are the most important bridge for furthering trade and exchange between our two countries. I am delighted to have the chance to join so many good friends today. I believe that with the joint efforts of Prime Minister Harris and all of you, Taiwan and St. Kitts and Nevis will enjoy a close friendship for many more years to come, and we will continue to make progress in economic development and promoting the welfare of our peoples. Thank you! (End of remarks) Brimstone Hill Fortress was built atop an 800-foot hill overlooking the western coast of the island of St. Kitts, and is one of the best preserved colonial-period fortresses in all of the Americas. In 2011, USA Today ranked the Brimstone Hill Fortress in the top ten out of 500 must see hidden gems on the planet. During the proceedings, Management Council President Morton presented her with a painting showing a panoramic view of Brimstone Hill Fortress. After the luncheon, President Tsai and her delegation were accompanied by Prime Minister Harris to downtown Basseterre to visit the Berkeley Memorial, a well-known local landmark. The atmosphere along the way was lively, with warm greetings from local residents and students, and some school children even calling out best wishes to the president in Mandarin.

President Tsai Ing-wen met with a delegation led by Tuvalu Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga and Mrs. Sopoaga on the morning of May 3 at the Office of the President. President Tsai and Prime Minister Sopoaga jointly witnessed the signing of an agreement between Taiwan and Tuvalu concerning seafarers' training and certification, under the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers 1978, by both sides' transportation ministers. The president also expressed hope that the two countries will strengthen all-around cooperation and enhance the well-being of people in both countries. In remarks, President Tsai began by welcoming Prime Minister Sopoaga and Mrs. Sopoaga to the Office of the President, stating that this is Prime Minister Sopoaga's 16th visit to Taiwan. President Tsai recalled that when she visited Tuvalu in 2017, her delegation received a warm welcome from the government and people of Tuvalu. She trusted that during his visit to Taiwan this time, the prime minister will experience the warmth of the Taiwanese people as well. Since taking office, President Tsai pointed out, Prime Minister Sopoaga has been committed to national development, while actively responding to the challenges of climate change. Taiwan is also actively working to implement the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, the president said, and we would be happy to share our experiences with the world. Of course, President Tsai stated, Taiwan can contribute so much more to the international community in various areas. She thanked Prime Minister Sopoaga and the Tuvaluan government for firmly supporting Taiwan's international participation. In particular, this April the Tuvalu government wrote a letter to the Director-General of the World Health Organization requesting that Taiwan be invited to this year's World Health Assembly. The president stated that Tuvalu's staunch support for Taiwan's right to international participation is a testament to our countries' strong friendship, and gives us the strength to persevere. Taiwan can help, she emphasized, and we are more than willing to do our part to improve global welfare. Mentioning that this year marks the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Tuvalu, President Tsai noted that our cooperation in many different fields continues to grow closer. Our technical mission's collaborative farms are bringing fresh produce to Tuvaluan citizens and promoting healthy lifestyles. And our various cooperative programs, including Tuvaluan students studying in Taiwan, talent development, and vocational training, are consistently popular. This year, the president stated, we are further expanding our cooperation with Tuvalu and other allies with the introduction of the Taiwan Digital Opportunity Center (TDOC). This center will provide more opportunities for bilateral exchanges, and cultivate Tuvalu's next-generation tech talents. These are all perfect examples of mutually beneficial steadfast diplomacy. In closing, President Tsai welcomed Prime Minister Sopoaga and Mrs. Sopoaga to Taiwan once again and expressed hope for the continued growth of our bilateral friendship, so that we can create a better future together. In his remarks that followed, Prime Minister Sopoaga stated that he was delighted to be in Taiwan once again, and that his delegation's visit to Taiwan would allow them to pay witness to Taiwan's progress and development, while also representing the Tuvaluan people and government's strong support for Taiwan. He praised President Tsai for her leadership, and mentioned President Tsai's commitment to creating a better Taiwan, stating that he had personally witnessed Taiwan's impressive achievements on both bilateral and international issues. The people of Tuvalu are very proud of their friendly relationship with Taiwan, he said, and he thanked Taiwan for reminding his delegation of their duty to better the lives of their people. Finally, Prime Minister Sopoaga thanked Taiwan for supporting Tuvaluan education, allowing Tuvaluan students to excel in medical, technological, and scientific fields. He then expressed hope for the continued strengthening of Taiwan-Tuvalu relations. After the meeting, President Tsai and Prime Minister Sopoaga jointly witnessed the signing of an agreement regarding seafarers' training and certification by Taiwan Minister of Transportation and Communications Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) and Tuvaluan Minister for Communications and Transport Monise Laafai. This agreement, based on the diplomatic friendship between Taiwan and Tuvalu, will allow Taiwanese seafarers' training and certification to be recognized in Tuvalu, offering more future employment opportunities. Following the completion of the signing ceremony, the two heads of state, and Foreign and Transportation Ministers raised their glasses in a toast to successful bilateral cooperation. Guests included Tuvalu Minister of Foreign Affairs Taukelina Finikaso and his wife, Minister for Natural Resources and Lands Puakena Boreham, Member of the Parliament MacKenzie Kiritome, and Ambassador to Taiwan Limasene Teatu and her husband.

On the evening of September 27, President Tsai Ing-wen attended the opening ceremony of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World Carnival in Penghu, an offshore island of Taiwan. She recognized the efforts of Penghu County Magistrate Chen Kuang-fu (陳光復) and the county government in promoting sustainable tourism. The president also expressed hope that through these carnival activities Taiwan can exchange experiences in promoting sustainable tourism with friends from around the world, and they can get some sense of Taiwan's hard work and perseverance in promoting sustainable development. In remarks, President Tsai stated that she was very happy to be in Penghu to celebrate this great event with everyone there. A memory of Penghu's natural beauty is etched in the minds of all Taiwanese, she said, and that image of beauty is now acknowledged around the world. After extensive efforts for many years, Penghu finally joined the international NGO "The Most Beautiful Bays in the World" (MBBW). And thanks to the perseverance of the Penghu County Government, the organization has also decided to hold its annual world congress in Penghu. We have expanded that event into a "Most Beautiful Bays in the World Carnival," so we welcome good friends from around the world to join us, so that we can experience the beauty of Penghu together. The president stated that becoming the host of this international event shows how Penghu has earned worldwide recognition for its success in such areas as ocean restoration, tourism development, and renewable energy. So she congratulated the County Government of Penghu led by Magistrate Chen, and thanked them for their efforts. The president mentioned that Penghu includes more than 90 islands with a rich variety of topographical features, culture, and scenery. Each of them—be it Penghu's basalt formations, the Double-Heart Stone Fish Trap that attracts tourists so much, or the Jibei Spit sand peninsula—all leave visitors with indelible memories. No one who has been to Penghu ever forgets its blue sea and skies, glorious beaches and sunsets, and wide variety of water and underwater activities. Penghu is like a natural history textbook, allowing travelers to feel the pulse of the ocean and the breath of life. Since taking office, Magistrate Chen has taken active measures to revive Penghu's coral reefs. Clearing fishing nets from the seabed has created a better environment for marine life and helped make ecotourism a new hope and asset in the development of Penghu's tourism industry. Through the efforts of Magistrate Chen and the county government, Penghu has made great progress in managing marine pollution and developing renewable energy. President Tsai commended that Penghu County's efforts to promote sustainable tourism have placed much emphasis on protecting the natural environment and ecosystem. The county government has maintained the local culture, history, and way of life, and remained committed to balancing economic development and ecological protection. This has contributed a great deal to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is something we are actively pursuing. She also hopes that friends from around the world can take advantage of this opportunity to get some sense of Taiwan's hard work and perseverance in promoting sustainable development. Even though Taiwan is not a member of the UN, President Tsai emphasized, we continue to work hard and seek opportunities to cooperate on the UN SDGs. This shows that Taiwan is a responsible member of the international community, and that our determination to engage with the world and strengthen Taiwan's global connections has never faltered. The president pointed out that this 45-day carnival covers a rich variety of activities, including the Worldwide Ocean Cities Exposition, the 2018 Penghu Lights Festival, and the Bay Landscape Art Festival, as well as colloquiums on climate change and marine debris treatment systems. She said that we look forward to exchanging experiences in promoting sustainable tourism with other countries. In closing, on behalf of the people and government of Taiwan, President Tsai welcomed friends from around the world as they experience Penghu for themselves, and fall in love with these islands. She also wished the 2018 Most Beautiful Bays in the World Carnival the very best of success. The president and other distinguished guests then jointly initiated the opening ceremony and took in splendid performances. Also attending the event were National Policy Advisor to the President Chi Cheng (紀政), Minister of Transportation and Communications Wu Hong-Mo (吳宏謀), Penghu County Magistrate Chen Kuang-fu, Legislator Yang Yao (楊曜), retired Ambassador Michel Ching-long Lu (呂慶龍), and MBBW World President Maria das Dores Meira.

In a recent interview via videoconference with The New York Times for its DealBook Summit, President Lai Ching-te responded to questions from host Andrew Ross Sorkin on topics including Taiwan’s national defense, cross-strait relations, Taiwan-US relations, the Russia-Ukraine war, and the semiconductor industry. The interview was broadcast in the early morning of December 4. The DealBook Summit is a major annual event held by The New York Times aimed at facilitating dialogue among leaders from various sectors and sharing their insights and analyses on international affairs. This year’s summit was held on December 3 (US EST) in New York, and included such speakers as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Palantir CEO Alex Karp, and Turning Point USA CEO and Chair of the Board Erika Kirk. The following is the full text of the interview: Q: Here’s where I want to start the conversation. You’ve just announced this past week that you’re introducing a US$40 billion special budget for military spending to buy more weapons from the US to try to deter China from invading Taiwan. What indicators, and perhaps new indicators, are you looking at that shows an increased threat to Taiwan? President Lai: We can see that China’s military drills targeted at Taiwan are becoming increasingly frequent and intense. They have even moved beyond the first island chain into the second, affecting the wider Indo-Pacific region. At the same time, China’s united front influence campaigns against Taiwan are also becoming more serious. In order to safeguard national security and fulfill our responsibility to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, we have announced this special defense budget. We believe that peace is priceless, and war has no winners. While we aspire to peace, we cannot harbor illusions about it. Peace must be secured through strength. This is why we are increasing our defense budget and strengthening our national defense capabilities, while also cutting back our economic dependence on China. This includes improving our economic resilience. In 2010, 83.8 percent of Taiwan’s outbound investment went to China; last year, that figure had dropped to around 7 percent. We are also working side-by-side with other democracies to reinforce deterrence. Robust preparations are the best way to avoid war and achieve peace. Q: Let me ask you this: President Xi has said that his goal for China’s military is to be capable of taking Taiwan by force by 2027. You said that Beijing is accelerating these preparations for an attempted invasion. So what do you think China’s timeline is now? President Lai: We must ensure the best possible preparations for the worst-case scenarios. Whatever timeline the PLA may have, Taiwan’s fundamental principle is that we must be ready first – this is our basic principle. I also want to use this opportunity to reiterate to the international community that Taiwan will do everything necessary to protect itself and to safeguard regional peace and stability. We are grateful to the international community, including the G7, the president of the United States, Japan’s political leaders, and many others for their interest in cross-strait peace and emphasizing that stability in the Taiwan Strait is essential to global security and prosperity. Their shared position greatly contributes to stability in Taiwan and peace in the region. We hope Taiwan can continue working with the international community to uphold the rules-based international order. Q: Well, let me ask you about that because, Mr. President, last week you said the relationship between Taiwan and the US is rock-solid. How confident are you that the United States, and in particular President Trump, would come to the aid of Taiwan if China were to invade? President Lai: Although Taiwan and the United States do not have official diplomatic relations, Taiwan is deeply grateful to the US Congress for passing the Taiwan Relations Act and to President Ronald Reagan for the Six Assurances. For decades, successive US administrations and both parties in Congress have strongly supported Taiwan based on this foundation. Our relationship truly is rock-solid. Since President Trump took office, cooperation with Taiwan has not only continued but even expanded. We look forward to working with the United States through tariff negotiations – not only to help address their trade deficit, but also to deepen bilateral economic relations and strengthen our friendship. Q: We’ve all been watching what’s been happening play out in Ukraine between Ukraine and Russia. And there have been questions inside Ukraine about the support that the United States has provided or not in terms of how this ultimately gets settled. How do you view what’s happening in Ukraine right now and the role that the US is playing there? President Lai: Taiwan stands with the people of Ukraine. We hope this irrational and illegitimate war will be over as soon as possible so that the Ukrainian people will no longer have to suffer. However, in ending this war, we also hope that Ukraine’s national dignity and the well-being of its people will be respected, and future conflict will be prevented. Q: You talked about trade earlier. When you talk about the relationship between the US and Taiwan, one of the reasons that Taiwan is so valuable, such a strategic asset – and President Trump talks about it this way about Taiwan – is because of semiconductors. And one of the things that he says is that he hopes that the US is going to be manufacturing 40 to 50 percent of all semiconductors in the next couple of years with your help. Does that make Taiwan more valuable ultimately to the US or do you worry at all that it makes it less valuable to the US? President Lai: Taiwan’s semiconductor industry plays a crucial role, especially as we enter the future AI era. But I want to emphasize, with humility, that Taiwan’s semiconductor sector is a global asset. The industry functions as an ecosystem: the US excels in R&D, design, and has the world’s largest market; Japan provides materials and equipment; the Netherlands makes advanced lithography systems; Taiwan specializes in logic chip manufacturing; and Korea leads in flash memory chips. In other words, semiconductors are a global ecosystem – it requires worldwide cooperation to be effective. This is why our government supports TSMC and other Taiwanese semiconductor firms as they invest in the US, Japan, Europe, or wherever they believe is needed. This contributes to global progress and prosperity. As a result, we remain supportive as President Trump seeks investments from Taiwanese semiconductor companies and suppliers in the US. We hope Taiwan can support the reindustrialization of the US. President Trump wants the US to become the world center for AI, and we are willing to assist in this. As I said earlier, we hope Taiwan-US tariff negotiations will not only help reduce the US trade deficit, but also deepen bilateral economic cooperation, further integrate Taiwan’s industries with the American economic structure, and strengthen the Taiwan-US relationship. This will contribute to global prosperity and development. Q: Do you think that President Trump’s timeline, this idea that 40 to 50 percent of all semiconductors could be manufactured in the United States in the next two or three years, is realistic? President Lai: We understand President Trump’s sense of urgency; he wants the United States to maintain an edge in global competition. Whether this target of 40 to 50 percent can be achieved within this timeframe depends not only on Taiwan’s support but also on the US government’s ability to facilitate land acquisition, water and electricity supply, workforce and talent development, and investment incentives. If the US government manages to do this well and effectively, then this goal becomes much more achievable. Q: There’s a big debate in the United States right now about whether companies like Nvidia should be allowed to sell their most advanced chips to China. And there has not been a real answer yet here in the US. I’m curious what you think about that. Do you think that the most advanced chips should be allowed to be exported to China? President Lai: As Taiwan’s president, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on US domestic policy. But I can share an experience: Around the year 2000, Taiwan faced a similar debate about whether our advanced chip manufacturing capabilities should move to mainland China. There was an extensive and thorough discussion across society and among different political parties. The consensus was that it would be unwise and should not happen. Looking back, that decision was correct. Had Taiwan allowed its most advanced manufacturing to relocate to China, Taiwan would not be what it is today. Q: Final question for you. Your economy is red hot right now, in large part because of the AI boom. It’s a two-part question. I wonder whether you’re worried about an AI boom being an AI bubble. And I’m also curious how you think about the Chinese economy today and how that relates to how President Xi even views Taiwan, and when and if it would consider either invading or, through using the gray zone, trying to effectively cut off or control Taiwan. President Lai: There are many different views in the tech and economic communities. Some say AI could become a bubble; others say it may not. As a political leader, I believe the AI era will bring greater convenience to people’s lives, stimulate economic development, and contribute to global prosperity. That is why we must take steps to prevent AI from becoming a bubble. In other words, leaders around the world – especially those from countries with AI-related industries – should work together and take necessary measures to ensure AI develops sustainably and has a soft landing, so that it can drive long-term global growth. China’s economy is indeed struggling. Taiwan’s growth rate this year is projected to reach 7.37 percent, while international financial institutions estimate China’s growth to be only a little above 4 percent. We sincerely hope that as China faces economic pressures, President Xi Jinping will focus not on territorial expansion but on improving the well-being of the Chinese people. Taiwan is willing to help and to cooperate in addressing these economic challenges.