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2019-03-26
中文
President Tsai holds reception in Marshall Islands for traveling press corps

On the evening of March 26 (afternoon of March 26 Taipei time), President Tsai Ing-wen held a reception in the Marshall Islands for the press corps traveling with her "Oceans of Democracy" delegation. At the gathering, she detailed the trip's achievements and responded to questions from reporters.

In remarks, President Tsai said that the Marshall Islands was the third stop of her visits, and also the last stop of the three diplomatic allies in the South Pacific, and that they would depart the next day for a transit stop in Hawaii on their way back to Taiwan. Noting that Taiwan has six diplomatic allies in Oceania, the president said that the ROC (Taiwan) flag flew along the roadsides in each of the three countries she visited, and children waving our national flags also lined the routes she traveled. Taiwan engages in extensive cooperation and interaction with these countries in such fields as healthcare, agriculture, vocational training, and renewable energy.

For these countries, said President Tsai, Taiwan is an important cooperative partner, mainly because we maintain a shared belief in democracy and harbor many of the same ideals. In particular, we are all island nations, and the greatest challenge to South Pacific island nations today is climate change. Sea levels continue to rise closer to island shores. Global climate change and rising temperatures pose challenges to these countries that also serve as a warning for the rest of us, and we can use our strengths to work together with them to face these many challenges.

President Tsai said that the members of the traveling press corps would all no doubt have their own views regarding the countries they had visited. Palau, for example, has always attached great importance to tourism, and was once boycotted by China on account of its diplomatic relationship with Taiwan, yet it has continued to maintain ties with us. We have also seen their commitment to environmental sustainability: Palau has introduced the Palau Pledge, prohibited the use of reef-toxic sunscreen, and is committed to dolphin conservation.

The president mentioned that the presence of international research teams studying coral reefs in Palau made a deep impression upon her. Palau was long a major producer of coral, but due to climate change, Palau's coral population was cut nearly in half. However, the nation has managed to keep the coral in Neco Bay very much intact, which has been meaningful to scientists and environmentalists alike. Their studies are useful for countries throughout the world, and many of their concerns are quite new to us.

President Tsai thanked the government of Palau for the support it has given Taiwan in the international community. Besides continuing to cooperate with Palau in pursuit of economic and social development, there is much that Taiwan can learn from Palau in the area of sustainable development. Similarly, Nauru President Baron Waqa has also remained steadfast in his commitment to democracy, and has lent his staunch support to Taiwan, despite facing heavy pressure from China. These small countries displayed particular courage by speaking up for Taiwan at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). The Nauru Parliament's passage of a resolution opposing China's "one country, two systems" model for Taiwan on March 25 also took immense courage. Their actions also provide powerful support for Taiwan in the international community, she said.

President Tsai then mentioned that the Marshall Islands also faces the challenge of climate change, and is similarly pursuing sustainable development. At the Pacific Women Leaders' Coalition Conference that day, many speakers offered keen insights on women issues. Indeed, the discussions were comparable to similar discourse anywhere else in the world in terms of depth and breadth; moreover, they reflected the issues facing women in this region, and how we should be thinking about and dealing with them. The discussions left a deep impression on her, said the president, adding that Taiwan is also a maritime nation, and the experiences of our diplomatic allies in the Pacific deserve serious thought back home.

Noting that officials from Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration were part of the delegation, President Tsai mentioned that during this trip Taiwan signed agreements for coast guard cooperation with Palau and Nauru. Taiwan, she said, hopes to engage in collaboration on oceanic research, humanitarian aid, and other such activities to establish close links among its partners in the Indo-Pacific region, for there are many other areas in which we could cooperate. The president said that Taiwan will continue to discuss such matters with like-minded nations so that our resources can be directed with greater precision to exactly where they are needed in Oceania, and cooperation projects can yield better results.

Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), in remarks of his own, said that everyone could no doubt appreciate the difficulty of Taiwan's diplomatic position, but he also expressed confidence that everyone is encouraged to see Taiwan achieve diplomatic success. For example, Matt Pottinger, Senior Director for Asian Affairs at the US White House National Security Council, recently appeared alongside our Deputy Foreign Minister Hsu Szu-chien (徐斯儉) in a photo taken in the Solomon Islands, and the photo was publicly released by the United States. Also, not long ago at Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, American Institute in Taiwan Taipei Office Director William Brent Christensen jointly conducted a press conference with Foreign Minister Wu. And in a recent statement to the Micronesia Presidents' Summit, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke in strong praise of Taiwan, describing our country as "a democratic success story, a reliable partner, and a force for good in the world."

Foreign Minister Wu said that it is encouraging to hear such praise for Taiwan because it means that our diplomatic efforts have been well received by the international community. Secretary Pompeo's remarks, in particular, are a source of strength that helps Taiwan to work unflaggingly toward achieving our objectives. Because our friends feel Taiwan is a force for good in the world, we must work to identify ways we can contribute more to the international community. For example, Taiwan boasts a high standard of medical care, so engaging in medical cooperation with diplomatic allies to raise the level of medical care in their countries is one way to act as a force for good in the international community.

Minister Wu further stated that last year at the PIF, he announced the establishment of a special medical fund subsidizing professional medical teams traveling to the forum's member states to provide medical services, a plan that received much praise from PIF participants. Taiwan's agricultural capabilities are outstanding as well, he said, and our agricultural technical missions are helping to better these people's lives and their eating habits, contributions that have been widely lauded by our allies. Taiwan has also contributed to women's rights in the Marshall Islands.

Minister Wu pointed out that these state visits have offered ample proof of Taiwan's positive impact. By working with like-minded countries, Taiwan's democratic success story and our progressive power are being seen and recognized around the world. For Taiwan, diplomacy means making friends around the world, and that is our responsibility, he said. On this trip, he continued, we made new friends and solidified relationships with our diplomatic allies, and that is what our administration wants to show the people.

National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Tsai Ming-yen (蔡明彥) further detailed the meaning of this round of state visits. He said that the main theme of President Tsai's trip was "Oceans of Democracy," and that all the countries they visited are maritime nations. Maritime nations in the Indo-Pacific are attaching growing importance to issues of maritime governance and security, most importantly sustainable development, environmental conservation, judicial cooperation, and the fight against maritime crime.

Deputy Secretary-General Tsai said that Palau, the site of their first stop, will be hosting the 2020 "Our Oceans Conference," with a mission of promoting maritime conservation and sustainable development. Today, the delegation left Nauru, which hosted a major regional conference on strengthening cross-border law enforcement and crime crackdown mechanisms last year. They also visited a memorial to the Boe Declaration, an important commitment to maritime collaboration, on March 25.

Deputy Secretary-General Tsai pointed out that Taiwan can develop mutually beneficial relationships with allies in the South Pacific regarding maritime governance and security. Our South Pacific allies have a wonderful vision for our oceans, but they lack the capacity and resources. In Taiwan's case, he said, we have relatively greater capacity and resources at our disposal, but we lack international links and experience in multilateral collaboration. Thus, by working with our allies in the South Pacific on issues of maritime governance or security, we can assist in the buildup of their maritime governance capacities, and also play a more active role in linking and contributing to the region.

Deputy Secretary-General Tsai also mentioned that Taiwan signed coast guard cooperation agreements with multiple South Pacific allies over the course of this trip. Going forward, he said, we will promote personnel exchanges with these countries, and draw up cooperative plans to enhance their law enforcement and maritime research capabilities. As a member of the Indo-Pacific, Taiwan is highly interconnected with maritime governance issues, and we should not be excluded. We also hope to develop reliable partnerships with these countries in maritime governance, based on the foundations we laid on these state visits.

Moving on, Deputy Secretary-General Tsai explained that this trip had another important meaning in that all of the countries they visited share values of democracy and freedom with Taiwan, and they all pursue good governance goals. Thus, a large portion of our cooperative projects focus on public medicine and health, development of agricultural technologies, women's empowerment, and renewable resources. He expressed hope that Taiwan will follow a path of diplomacy based on ideals and values, rather than engaging in checkbook diplomacy. Diplomacy based on ideals and values, he said, is concerned with international responsibility and capacity building and sharing, while checkbook diplomacy often devolves into so-called "handouts" or "bribery."

Deputy Secretary-General Tsai pointed out that over the past few years, our collaborative good governance projects have made progress, and our allies greatly value cooperating and partnering with us in various public venues. They often speak up for Taiwan in international organizations and in the international community as a whole. For instance, our allies cooperate with us on public health and medicine through mechanisms and platforms provided by the World Health Organization, and they speak up for their belief that Taiwan should not be excluded. At events organized under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, our allies often speak up for us as well. They receive immense pressure from Beijing for their support of Taiwan, and we are thankful for our continued partnerships with them. Our diplomacy with these allies will continue to develop around our values and ideals, based on the foundations we established on these state visits.

When asked whether the delegation chose to visit South Pacific allies in response to US Indo-Pacific strategy, the president responded by saying that we have a long history of relations with these countries. We share many of the same values, she said, and we provide each other with mutual support based on these values. Our allies speak up for us in the international community, and we work together on shared economic, social, and sustainable development issues.

The president further pointed out that it is impossible to deny that this region's strategic importance has continued to grow over the past few years, and countries in the region have begun to consider what values they can collaborate on with other countries outside of national development and survival. These national and regional values closely match the values we have showcased in our bilateral cooperation with our allies, including sustainability, capacity building, women's empowerment, democracy, and environmental protection.

Our longstanding ideals and values-based bilateral cooperation and mutual assistance with our allies cover issues that have already come to carry important meaning for the region and Indo-Pacific strategy. This naturally leads to a trend of conversion, she said, and this development occurs quite naturally.

In response to questions about US Coast Guard vessels transiting through the Taiwan Strait for the first time, the president said that by continuing to perform such actions, the United States seeks to demonstrate their commitment to the right to freedom of navigation. Our national defense systems are fully aware of these maneuvers, and will continue to closely monitor the situation, she said. However, she noted, the United States' views on freedom of navigation align completely with ours.

Among those accompanying the president to the reception were Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Tsai Ming-yen, Council of Indigenous Peoples Minister Icyang Parod (夷將．拔路兒), and Ambassador to the Marshall Islands Jeffrey S.C. Hsiao (蕭勝中).

President Tsai Ing-wen holds a reception in the Marshall Islands for the press corps traveling with her "Oceans of Democracy" delegation.
President Tsai details the trip's achievements and responds to questions from reporters.
President Tsai holds a reception in the Marshall Islands for the press corps traveling with her "Oceans of Democracy" delegation.
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I want to take this opportunity to especially thank Chairman Pete Ricketts and Ranking Member Chris Coons for their high regard and support for Taiwan. Chairman Ricketts has elected to visit Taiwan on his first overseas trip since taking up his new position in January. Ranking Member Coons made a dedicated trip to Taiwan in 2021 to announce a donation of COVID-19 vaccines on behalf of the US government. He also visited last May, soon after my inauguration, continuing to deepen Taiwan-US exchanges. Thanks to support from Chairman Ricketts and Ranking Member Coons, the US Congress has continued to introduce many concrete initiatives and resources to assist Taiwan through the National Defense Authorization Act and Consolidated Appropriations Act, bringing the Taiwan-US partnership even closer. For this, I want to again express my gratitude. There has long been bipartisan support in the US Congress for maintaining security in the Taiwan Strait. 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A more secure and sustainable economic and trade partnership will allow us to address the challenges posed by geopolitics, climate change, and the restructuring of global supply chains. In closing, I wish Chairman Ricketts and Ranking Member Coons a smooth and successful visit. Chairman Ricketts then delivered remarks, first thanking President Lai for his hospitality. He said that he and his delegation have had a wonderful time meeting with government officials, industry representatives, and the team at the American Institute in Taiwan. Highlighting that Taiwan has long been a friend and partner of the US, he said their bipartisan delegation to Taiwan emphasizes long-time bipartisan support in the US Congress for Taiwan, and though administrations change, that bipartisan support remains. Chairman Ricketts stated that the US is committed to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific and that they want to see peace across the Taiwan Strait. 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He also noted that there are many opportunities for us to continue to grow the economic relationship that will help create more prosperity for our respective peoples and ensure that we are more secure in the world. Chairman Ricketts emphasized that they made this trip early on in the new US administration to work with Taiwan to develop three points: security, diplomatic relations, and the economy. He stated that in the face of rising aggression from communist China, the US will provide commensurate help to Taiwan in self-defense and that they will continue to provide the services and tools needed. In closing, Chairman Ricketts once again thanked President Lai for the hospitality and said he looks forward to dialogue on how we can continue these relationships. Ranking Member Coons then delivered remarks. 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中文
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中文
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中文
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President Lai pens Bloomberg News article on Taiwan’s response to US reciprocal tariffs
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As a trade-dependent economy, our long-term success is built on trade relationships that are fair, reciprocal and mutually beneficial. Encouraging Taiwanese businesses to expand their global footprint, particularly in the US, is a vital part of this strategy. Deepening commercial ties between Taiwanese and American firms is another. These core principles will guide our response to President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs. First, we will seek to restart trade negotiations with a common objective of reducing all tariffs between Taiwan and the US. While Taiwan already maintains low tariffs, with an average nominal rate of 6%, we are willing to further cut this rate to zero on the basis of reciprocity with the US. By removing the last vestiges to free and fair trade, we seek to encourage greater trade and investment flows between our two countries. Second, Taiwan will rapidly expand procurement of American goods. 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中文
2025-04-08
President Lai receives credentials from new Tuvalu Ambassador Lily Tangisia Faavae  
On the morning of April 8, President Lai Ching-te received the credentials of new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Tuvalu to the Republic of China (Taiwan) Lily Tangisia Faavae. In remarks, President Lai welcomed the ambassador to her new post and thanked Tuvalu for its long-term support for Taiwan’s international participation. The president also noted that joint efforts between our two countries have produced fruitful results in such areas as medicine and public health, agricultural and fisheries technology, and information and communications technology. He expressed his hope that we will continue to deepen our bilateral relations so as to generate even greater well-being for our peoples and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Pacific region. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: It is a great pleasure today to receive the credentials of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Tuvalu Lily Tangisia Faavae. On behalf of the Republic of China (Taiwan), I extend my warmest welcome to you. Last year, the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Tuvalu celebrated 45 years of diplomatic relations. Prime Minister Feleti Teo visited Taiwan in May last year for the inauguration of myself and Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao and again in October for our National Day celebrations. When I visited Tuvalu last December, I was warmly received by the government and people of Tuvalu, and I deeply felt that our two countries were like family. Ambassador Faavae’s posting to Taiwan demonstrates the importance Prime Minister Teo places on our ties. Widely recognized for her exceptional talent, Ambassador Faavae is an outstanding official with extensive experience in public service. Moreover, during her term as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, she voiced support for Taiwan at the World Health Assembly. I believe that with her assistance, our two nations will further advance cooperation and exchanges. I want to thank the government of Tuvalu for long supporting Taiwan’s international participation. Furthermore, joint efforts between our two countries have produced fruitful results in such areas as medicine and public health, agricultural and fisheries technology, and information and communications technology. Last year, Prime Minister Teo and I signed a joint communiqué on advancing the comprehensive partnership between Taiwan and Tuvalu. Going forward, we will stand together in tackling the challenges we face, including climate change and expanding authoritarianism. And we will continue to deepen our bilateral relations so as to generate even greater well-being for our peoples and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Pacific region. Once again, I warmly welcome Ambassador Faavae to her new post in Taiwan. Please convey warmest regards from Taiwan to Prime Minister Teo and all of our friends in Tuvalu. I wish you all the best in work and life during your term in Taiwan. Ambassador Faavae then delivered remarks, saying that it is a great honor and privilege to meet with President Lai today as the new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Tuvalu to Taiwan, and to present to him her letter of credence. She then extended, on behalf of the government and people of Tuvalu, her warmest greetings and deep respect to the president and people of Taiwan. The letter of credence, she noted, signifies the trust and confidence that her government and governor-general have placed in her to represent their nation and to foster and strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between our countries. Ambassador Faavae said that our two countries have enjoyed a longstanding relationship of 45 years based on mutual respect, cooperation, and shared values. She added that we have collaborated, and continue to do so, in such fields as education, health, climate change adaptation and sea level rise mitigation, agriculture, clean energy, and internet connectivity.  Ambassador Faavae pointed out that Tuvalu remains committed to deepening ties with Taiwan and that it values people-to-people connections and our shared Austronesian heritage. She noted that the people of Tuvalu, a small developing nation, have greatly benefited from Taiwan’s advanced technical expertise and diverse financial assistance. She said she believes Tuvalu and Taiwan share a common interest and are united in our efforts and commitment to upholding democracy, peace, stability, and prosperity for our people and making the world better and safer.  Ambassador Faavae stated that as ambassador of Tuvalu to Taiwan, she pledges to work diligently and respectfully to enhance our bilateral relations, promote mutual understanding, and facilitate collaboration in areas of shared concern. The ambassador said she looks forward to collaborating closely with the Taiwan government and other stakeholders to achieve our common objectives and to continue building a more prosperous and harmonious future for our nations. In closing, she thanked President Lai for the opportunity to serve and to further the enduring friendship between our two countries.  
中文
2025-04-06
President Lai delivers remarks on US tariff policy response
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.
中文