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 afternoon of November 20, President Tsai Ing-wen met with the Japanese delegation to the 32nd Sino-Japanese Modern Engineering and Technology Symposium. The president stated that this symposium is an important platform for technical exchange between Taiwan and Japan, and expressed hope that the two sides can make use of these experiential and technical exchanges to seek more opportunities for cooperation and spur industrial development. In remarks, President Tsai noted that Taiwan and Japan benefit from close geographic proximity and economic ties, and have long been partners, especially in the area of industrial development. The president pointed out that the Sino-Japanese Modern Engineering and Technology Symposium was launched in 1980, and this year's event is the 32nd in the series. Adding that it is an important platform for technical exchange between Taiwan and Japan, she noted that issues discussed at previous symposia include construction projects, environmental resources, disaster preparedness technologies, and humanistic technologies in the humanities. These issues have had an important impact on the development of technology and industry in Taiwan. President Tsai feels that each symposium in the series has demonstrated how Taiwan and Japan share a mutually beneficial friendship and have worked together to face challenges. Both countries have addressed the problem of demographic ageing by discussing the issue of how to create living environments suited to the needs of the elderly. Many of the issues at this year's symposium—such as water resources, energy environments, and railway engineering—involve precisely the technologies that Taiwan will need to carry out its Forward-looking Infrastructure Development Program. The president thanked her visitors for making the trip to Taiwan to share their experience and expertise, and stated that these exchanges will become the cornerstone of the bilateral friendship. She also expressed confidence that, by working on the foundation of this mutually beneficial professional interaction, the two sides can continue to tap into the potential benefits of cooperation and spur industrial development in both countries. And lastly, noting that her visitors would engage in professional discussions and on-site visits over the coming few days, President Tsai expressed hope that the two sides would have opportunities for interactions and exchanges during their stay, and together look for more opportunities for cooperation to enhance bilateral cooperation in many different fields. Included in the delegation were: delegation head Nobuyuki Ohtera, Executive Director of Japan's Road Administration Information Center; Professor Seiji Ikkatai of Musashino University and Kyoto University; President Ben. L. B. Chiou (邱琳濱) of the Chinese Institute of Engineers; and President Pan Chen-yu (潘振宇) of the Chinese Institute of Engineers, Japan.

On April 6, President Lai Ching-te delivered recorded remarks regarding the impact of the 32 percent tariff that the United States government recently imposed on imports from Taiwan in the name of reciprocity. In his remarks, President Lai explained that the government will adopt five response strategies, including making every effort to improve reciprocal tariff rates through negotiations, adopting a support plan for affected domestic industries, adopting medium- and long-term economic development plans, forming new “Taiwan plus the US” arrangements, and launching industry listening tours. The president emphasized that as we face this latest challenge, the government and civil society will work hand in hand, and expressed hope that all parties, both ruling and opposition, will support the measures that the Executive Yuan will take to open up a broader path for Taiwan’s economy. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: My fellow citizens, good evening. The US government recently announced higher tariffs on countries around the world in the name of reciprocity, including imposing a 32 percent tariff on imports from Taiwan. This is bound to have a major impact on our nation. Various countries have already responded, and some have even adopted retaliatory measures. Tremendous changes in the global economy are expected. Taiwan is an export-led economy, and in facing future challenges there will inevitably be difficulties, so we must proceed carefully to turn danger into safety. During this time, I want to express gratitude to all sectors of society for providing valuable opinions, which the government regards highly, and will use as a reference to make policy decisions.  However, if we calmly and carefully analyze Taiwan’s trade with the US, we find that last year Taiwan’s exports to the US were valued at US$111.4 billion, accounting for 23.4 percent of total export value, with the other 75-plus percent of products sold worldwide to countries other than the US. Of products sold to the US, competitive ICT products and electronic components accounted for 65.4 percent. This shows that Taiwan’s economy does still have considerable resilience. As long as our response strategies are appropriate, and the public and private sectors join forces, we can reduce impacts. Please do not panic. To address the reciprocal tariffs by the US, Taiwan has no plans to adopt retaliatory tariffs. There will be no change in corporate investment commitments to the US, as long as they are consistent with national interests. But we must ensure the US clearly understands Taiwan’s contributions to US economic development. More importantly, we must actively seek to understand changes in the global economic situation, strengthen Taiwan-US industry cooperation, elevate the status of Taiwan industries in global supply chains, and with safeguarding the continued development of Taiwan’s economy as our goal, adopt the following five strategies to respond. Strategy one: Make every effort to improve reciprocal tariff rates through negotiations using the following five methods:  1. Taiwan has already formed a negotiation team led by Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君). The team includes members from the National Security Council, the Office of Trade Negotiations, and relevant Executive Yuan ministries and agencies, as well as academia and industry. Like the US-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement, negotiations on tariffs can start from Taiwan-US bilateral zero-tariff treatment. 2. To expand purchases from the US and thereby reduce the trade deficit, the Executive Yuan has already completed an inventory regarding large-scale procurement plans for agricultural, industrial, petroleum, and natural gas products, and the Ministry of National Defense has also proposed a military procurement list. All procurement plans will be actively pursued. 3. Expand investments in the US. Taiwan’s cumulative investment in the US already exceeds US$100 billion, creating approximately 400,000 jobs. In the future, in addition to increased investment in the US by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, other industries such as electronics, ICT, petrochemicals, and natural gas can all increase their US investments, deepening Taiwan-US industry cooperation. Taiwan’s government has helped form a “Taiwan investment in the US” team, and hopes that the US will reciprocate by forming a “US investment in Taiwan” team to bring about closer Taiwan-US trade cooperation, jointly creating a future economic golden age.  4. We must eliminate non-tariff barriers to trade. Non-tariff barriers are an indicator by which the US assesses whether a trading partner is trading fairly with the US. Therefore, we will proactively resolve longstanding non-tariff barriers so that negotiations can proceed more smoothly. 5. We must resolve two issues that have been matters of longstanding concern to the US. One regards high-tech export controls, and the other regards illegal transshipment of dumped goods, otherwise referred to as “origin washing.” Strategy two: We must adopt a plan for supporting our industries. For industries that will be affected by the tariffs, and especially traditional industries as well as micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises, we will provide timely and needed support and assistance. Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) and his administrative team recently announced a package of 20 specific measures designed to address nine areas. Moving forward, the support we provide to different industries will depend on how they are affected by the tariffs, will take into account the particular features of each industry, and will help each industry innovate, upgrade, and transform. Strategy three: We must adopt medium- and long-term economic development plans. At this point in time, our government must simultaneously adopt new strategies for economic and industrial development. This is also the fundamental path to solutions for future economic challenges. The government will proactively cooperate with friends and allies, develop a diverse range of markets, and achieve closer integration of entities in the upper, middle, and lower reaches of industrial supply chains. This course of action will make Taiwan’s industrial ecosystem more complete, and will help Taiwanese industries upgrade and transform. We must also make good use of the competitive advantages we possess in such areas as semiconductor manufacturing, integrated chip design, ICT, and smart manufacturing to build Taiwan into an AI island, and promote relevant applications for food, clothing, housing, and transportation, as well as military, security and surveillance, next-generation communications, and the medical and health and wellness industries as we advance toward a smarter, more sustainable, and more prosperous new Taiwan. Strategy four: “Taiwan plus one,” i.e., new “Taiwan plus the US” arrangements: While staying firmly rooted in Taiwan, our enterprises are expanding their global presence and marketing worldwide. This has been our national economic development strategy, and the most important aspect is maintaining a solid base here in Taiwan. We absolutely must maintain a solid footing, and cannot allow the present strife to cause us to waver. Therefore, our government will incentivize investments, carry out deregulation, and continue to improve Taiwan’s investment climate by actively resolving problems involving access to water, electricity, land, human resources, and professional talent. This will enable corporations to stay in Taiwan and continue investing here. In addition, we must also help the overseas manufacturing facilities of offshore Taiwanese businesses to make necessary adjustments to support our “Taiwan plus one” policy, in that our national economic development strategy will be adjusted as follows: to stay firmly rooted in Taiwan while expanding our global presence, strengthening US ties, and marketing worldwide. We intend to make use of the new state of supply chains to strengthen cooperation between Taiwanese and US industries, and gain further access to US markets. Strategy five: Launch industry listening tours: All industrial firms, regardless of sector or size, will be affected to some degree once the US reciprocal tariffs go into effect. The administrative teams led by myself and Premier Cho will hear out industry concerns so that we can quickly resolve problems and make sure policies meet actual needs. My fellow citizens, over the past half-century and more, Taiwan has been through two energy crises, the Asian financial crisis, the global financial crisis, and pandemics. We have been able to not only withstand one test after another, but even turn crises into opportunities. The Taiwanese economy has emerged from these crises stronger and more resilient than ever. As we face this latest challenge, the government and civil society will work hand in hand, and I hope that all parties in the legislature, both ruling and opposition, will support the measures that the Executive Yuan will take to open up a broader path for Taiwan’s economy. Let us join together and give it our all. Thank you.