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2022-04-15
中文
President Tsai meets senior US congressional delegation led by Senator Graham

On the morning of April 15, President Tsai Ing-wen received a senior congressional delegation from the United States led by Senator Lindsey Graham. President Tsai thanked the US Congress for its staunch bipartisan support for Taiwan, and said that Taiwan looks forward to playing an active role in the new US Indo-Pacific Strategy, working with the US to safeguard regional peace and stability and to stimulate further prosperity through economic cooperation and trade in the Indo-Pacific region. 

A translation of President Tsai's remarks follows:

I extend a very warm welcome to you all. The members of this delegation represent the Senate and House of Representatives and hail from both political parties. This demonstrates that Taiwan enjoys strong bipartisan support throughout the US Congress. You are all good friends of Taiwan. Thank you for your enduring support for Taiwan in the US Congress, and for proactively advancing the development of Taiwan-US relations.

I am delighted to see Senator Graham and Senator [Robert] Menendez once again. Senator Graham visited Taiwan in 1999 as a US representative, and again in 2016, not long after I took office as president.

Senator Graham, in the past two decades, you have contributed much to enhancing Taiwan-US trade relations and staunchly supported Taiwan's international participation. You are a pillar of strength for Taiwan in the US Congress.

Senator Menendez has been co-chair of the Senate Taiwan Caucus since 2009 and has introduced numerous pro-Taiwan bills, strengthening Taiwan's security and elevating Taiwan-US relations. We are fortunate to count you among Taiwan's staunchest friends on Capitol Hill. I also recall that when I made a transit stop in the US in July 2019, Senator Menendez, you took the time to travel from Washington, DC, to New York to attend the welcome reception. This was a sincere show of support for Taiwan.

Thanks to your efforts in working with us, Taiwan and the US have been able to build a strong, rock-solid relationship. April 10 marked the 43rd anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, which makes your visit all the more meaningful. We believe that as Taiwan and the US continue to deepen exchanges, cooperation will yield even more fruitful results.

In the past few years, Taiwan and the US have worked together through such mechanisms as the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF) and the US-Taiwan Consultations on Democratic Governance in the Indo-Pacific Region to help promote democracy, good governance, and human rights throughout the region. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has proven that democracies must bolster their alliances. Collectively, we can defend ourselves from the threats posed by authoritarian nations that seek to disrupt regional peace.

Taiwan has always been a staunch, unwavering partner to the US in the Indo-Pacific region. We look forward to playing an active role in the new Indo-Pacific Strategy and working with the US and other like-minded countries to continue to safeguard regional peace and stability. Taiwan also looks forward to working with the US to jointly promote economic cooperation and trade in the Indo-Pacific region, stimulating further prosperity.

In closing, I once again welcome you to Taiwan and hope that we can continue our partnership with the US Congress to defend democratic values.

After the conclusion of President Tsai's remarks, Senators Lindsey Graham, Robert Menendez, Richard Burr, Robert Portman, and Ben Sasse and Representative Ronny Jackson each delivered remarks, the transcripts of which follow: 

Senator Lindsey Graham:
Thank you, Madam President. Thank you for those kind words; it means a lot to all of us.

America has been politically divided. But I want you to know, when it comes to Taiwan, we're united. The Russian invasion of Ukraine and Communist Chinese provocative behavior has united America unlike any time I've seen in recent memory.

Why are we here? We're here to show support for what we love. We love freedom. We love the ability to achieve your individual dreams. We love the ability to pick our own leaders. We love the rule of law, and we hate the rule of gun.

It is often asked, 'What would America do if the Communist Chinese Party became more provocative against Taiwan?' I'm convinced we would stand for what we love. We would stand with you. 

To abandon Taiwan would be to abandon democracy and freedom. It would be to abandon free trade. It would reward the worst in humanity.

As we're here today to show our support for Taiwan, all of us have our hearts broken regarding the people of Ukraine. 

The people of Taiwan have sent almost 40 million US dollars' worth of assistance to the people of Ukraine. The Communist Chinese Party's President Xi has aided and abetted the war criminal Putin.

The CIA director gave a speech in America today – Mr. [William] Burns, who we all have a lot of faith in and support of – [in which he] said that President Xi was the solid partner of Putin in Ukraine.

What a contrast between the way the people of Taiwan and the Communist Party of China deal with Ukraine.

In economic terms, Taiwan is indispensable to the digital economy for the world and the United States. We hope to strengthen the ties even more economically. We hope you buy the [Boeing] 787 (made in South Carolina).

I just want to let you know that, while we've been watching the Ukraine on television, while it has broken our hearts, the American people understand how important you are to us.

There's a backlash growing in the world to thuggery and to the bad guys. There's a backlash in this world. NATO is getting stronger, not weaker. The Arabs and Israelis are working together to deal with the threat from Iran. I believe that there's a backlash growing against the oppression of the Chinese Communist Party worldwide.

So here's my promise to you and the Taiwanese people:

We're going to start making China pay a greater price for what they're doing all over the world. The support for Putin must come with a price. The never-ending cyberattacks on your economy and your people by the Communist Chinese need to come with a price.

I want you to be encouraged that the American people are more united than ever behind the idea of freedom.

Senator Robert Menendez:
Thank you very much for welcoming us. Madam President, to you and your distinguished Foreign Minister, your national security adviser, and your distinguished staff: we're thrilled to be here with the director of our offices here, who does an extraordinary job in promoting our relationship, and with a distinguished group of colleagues. 

As a co-chair of the [Senate] Taiwan Caucus, I am proud to be back to reaffirm our rock-solid relationship with Taiwan. And I hope, Madam President, that our presence here – at a time in which the world is in conflict, where our attention could be called to many other places – that, in fact, this distinguished delegation is here in Taiwan at this time sends a powerful message to you and the Taiwanese people.

The delegation, as I know you appreciate, is not just diverse and bipartisan, but high ranking. Not only do you have the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee here, you have the senior Republican on the Budget and Appropriations Committees, you have the senior Republican on the Homeland Security Committee, you have two of the most senior members of the Intelligence Committee, and the distinguished member from the House was on the Foreign [Affairs] Committee. 

So you have a high-level delegation whose attention could be brought any place in the world – and for which many of our colleagues are right now in Europe, dealing with the challenges of Ukraine – but we understand that here in Taiwan, here in this region–this is where the future is.

The Chinese government issued to our offices and publicly a communique that they are very unhappy that we are here. But that did not dissuade us from coming. And it won't dissuade us in the future in supporting Taiwan.

Two final points: one is, we seek no conflict with China, as I believe Taiwan seeks no conflict with China.

In fact, the United States and the West invited China into the international order to be part of following international engagement and international rules. Unfortunately, it accepted the invitation on trade, but has not acted within the international order. 

And so, the question before us is not a choice between the United States and China. It's a choice between what worlds do we want to live in.

Do we want to live in a world in which we are free to choose those who govern us? Do we want to live in a world where we are free because of our intellect and capacity to create great products and services, to be able to enjoy the benefits of that? Do we want to live in a world where we are free to ultimately decide how we worship, and so much more? Or do we seek to live in a world where our thoughts, our freedom, our ability to create, our ability to govern ourselves, [and] our ability to worship as we please [are] decided by someone else?

And so that is the choice before us, and it is in that spirit that we come here to Taiwan. Let me just say that, with Taiwan producing 90 percent of the world's high-end semiconductor products, it is a country of global significance, of global consequence, of global impact. And therefore, it should be understood that the security of Taiwan has a global impact for those who would wish it ill.

That in and of itself, in addition to the respect that we have for Taiwan as a country where the rule of law, transparency, the respect of the human individual, the choices that people get to make, would be sufficient to answer the question, 'Will we support Taiwan?' The answer is yes.

Senator Richard Burr:
Madam President, thank you for this audience and this time together with you and your leadership. I'm here to commend your leadership as it relates to the COVID challenge the world has faced.

I think it's relevant when you look at the Ukraine and you look at COVID, it's made every country in the world begin to rethink their supply chain needs. My hope and my belief is that, as the United States and Europe begin to recreate the architecture of the supply chain, that we look at this area of the world as an integrated part of that supply chain.

We have a rich history of partnership, but it's a partnership we think that can grow immensely. Madam President, you probably noticed that I have an America and Ukraine pin on my collar; it's no disrespect to Taiwan. This is a constant reminder to myself and to our partners around the world that we don't leave anybody in conflict. We're there as partners to the end.

Senator Robert Portman:
Thank you, Madam President. I didn't know I would have the opportunity to give a speech today. When you put a politician next to a microphone, sometimes it gets very long.

I'll try to avoid that. First, I want to thank you for welcoming us today, for your strong leadership, the courageous stances that you've taken on many issues, including encouraging your national security in the face of the threat from China. 

And I want to thank you for hiring [Foreign] Minister [Joseph] Wu (吳釗燮), because we consider him to be an Ohio Buckeye. We have something in common – both Minister Wu and I taught at The Ohio State University. He was a distinguished PhD., I was just another politician.

We're here to support Taiwan, and to try to deepen an already-strong relationship as it relates to the economy, to our shared values, particularly the fact that you stand here, so close to China, as a democracy and a model to others.

We would like to deepen our partnership with you in the effort to increase the prosperity, the security, the economy of the Indo-Pacific area. This is why you must be a member of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework that we are beginning, and why it would be very important for us to have a free trade agreement with Taiwan.

This is why we must deepen our bilateral economic relationship generally. Senator Graham talked about the 787s being made in South Carolina. He neglected to say that the engines are made in Ohio.

Thank you for your hospitality today and best of luck to you.

Senator Ben Sasse:
Thank you, Madam President, for hosting us. It is great to be with you. Kudos as well on your representative in Washington, DC. She does a great job advocating for you and telling your story.

I will be brief and just associate myself with the comments of my four colleagues thus far. But in addition, I would underscore the point about the commerce and the trade and the fraternity between our peoples. Taiwan is the eighth-largest trading partner of the United States. But many of those countries are the size of Japan and Germany. On a per capita basis, only our immediate neighbors of Canada and Mexico exceed our per capita trade with Taiwan, our third-largest trading partner at a per capita level.

Obviously, the vast majority of that is chips, and that is a testimony to a system of democratic capitalism that honors the dignity of people and fosters innovation. The Chinese Communist Party envies what you have in TSMC, but is unable to replicate it, because a system that puts people in jail for economic failure doesn't lead to innovation and creativity that comports with the dignity of people. 

In closing, I would just say to the folks across the strait paying attention to this meeting [that] the world has noticed what has been happening in Ukraine, the world has noticed the dignity of the Ukrainian people who resist tyranny, and the world and America's citizens have noticed that the Chinese Communist Party gave the green light to Vladimir Putin to bully and attack and provoke his neighbors. The world knows what side the Chinese Communist Party leadership was on. And the world increasingly stands not only with Ukraine, but with Taiwan.

Representative Ronny Jackson:
Madam President, I just want to say thank you for your overwhelming hospitality from you and your country for our delegation, and welcoming us here today. I also want to take this opportunity to publicly thank Senator Graham and Senator Menendez for including me on this important visit to your country.

As a proud member of the Taiwan Caucus in the House of Representatives, you cannot have a bigger supporter from the great state of Texas than I am for your cause.

And as a member of the Armed Services Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee, I understand how important this relationship is, both from a defense perspective and from an economic perspective.

Taiwan is a physically small country, but has an overwhelmingly huge economic impact globally, and that cannot be underestimated.

As I would say, it can't be overstated how important Taiwan is globally to all of us. I would say as a member of the House of Representatives [from Texas], I also want to thank Taiwan for the relationship that we've developed on an agricultural basis.

Many of your agricultural products come from the United States, and many come from my state of Texas. So I'm very interested in making sure that we support you in any way that we can in your cause, but also to continue to grow the US-Taiwan relationship, both from a defense standpoint and economically. And so to that end, I will be with you all the way.

The delegation led by Senator Graham, ranking member on the Senate Committee on the Budget, was accompanied to the Presidential Office by American Institute in Taiwan Taipei Office Director Sandra Oudkirk.

President Tsai poses for a photo with a senior congressional delegation from the United States.
President Tsai receives a senior congressional delegation from the United States.
US Senator Lindsey Graham delivers remarks at a meeting with President Tsai.
President Tsai receives a senior congressional delegation from the United States led by Senator Graham.
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Q: If you could speak directly to President Trump about Taiwan’s situation right now, the security situation more specifically, what would you want him to know?  President Lai: If I had the chance to meet President Trump in person and talk about the current cross-strait situation, I would suggest that he take note of the fact that Xi Jinping is not just holding ever-larger military exercises in the Taiwan Strait but expanding China’s military deployment in the South and East China Seas. China’s military exercises now extend across the Indo-Pacific region. Its aircraft carriers are moving beyond the first island chain and second island chain. And its northern fleet even sailed around Japan for a week. Chinese naval vessels also conducted live-fire exercises in Australia’s exclusive economic zone. The situation in the Indo-Pacific region is changing constantly, and tensions are rising. So the issue is not only a possible annexation of Taiwan. If it is able to annex Taiwan, China will be in a stronger position to compete with the United States and alter the rules-based international order. This would eventually also impact US interests. So we hope that President Trump can continue to maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. Taiwan is determined to ensure its national security. We will fulfill our responsibility and work with free and democratic countries to maintain regional peace and stability. Q: Because America has learned some difficult lessons about foreign policy and foreign policy intervention, there is a focus on partners who will carry their weight for their own defense and have a willingness to fight. If anyone in America, policymaker or citizen, has a question about whether Taiwan is willing to defend its own sovereignty, what would you say to them? President Lai: I would tell them that Taiwan is absolutely determined to ensure its own national security. Peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are indispensable elements in global security and prosperity. So when Taiwan looks after its own national security, it shows that Taiwan is committed to protecting regional peace and stability as well. That is why, as I mentioned before, we are continuing to increase our national defense budget. So during former President Tsai Ing-wen’s term, the national defense budget was increased from 1.9 percent of GDP to 2.5 percent. Next year, it will reach 3.32 percent. And we hope to increase this to 5 percent by 2030. This would be five years earlier than NATO’s own goal. Also, we have established the Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee under the Office of the President. This committee brings various sectors of Taiwan together and combines the strengths of the public and private sectors to carry out exercises and drills that enhance whole-of-society defense. I also convened a high-level national security meeting in which we defined the Chinese Communist Party regime as a foreign hostile force; and I proposed 17 strategies to address the five major threats we face from China. These will translate into more than a hundred amendments to our national security laws, which will be reviewed by the Legislative Yuan during the current session. This will put Taiwan on a stronger legal footing, bolster its national defense, and allow people to contribute their power toward safeguarding our nation and protecting regional peace and stability. I believe that people help those who help themselves. So I very much agree with your idea that Taiwan and other countries should meet their own responsibilities. Only by helping ourselves can we expect help from others. And when we show unity and work together, that is when deterrence is at its strongest; and that is when we will be able to safeguard peace and stability in the world. Q: Obviously, there’s a tremendous global and American, specifically, interest in artificial intelligence and the future of it. Also very interesting is the incredible facility that TSMC has built and is building out more in Arizona. I would like to ask you to speak to the economic partnership, specifically in advanced technology, microchip manufacturing, and artificial intelligence, and the relationship between Taiwan and America going forward, and how you view that to grow and bring prosperity for both countries. President Lai: So we all know that Taiwan’s technology industry has performed well. This is the result of decades of cooperation among Taiwan’s industries, government, academia, and R&D sector, as well as the support of the Taiwanese people. But I must also note with appropriate humility that TSMC and the Taiwanese semiconductor industry are still only one part of a bigger ecosystem, and do not represent the whole system. So if you look at the entire semiconductor ecosystem, the United States is strong in areas such as innovation, R&D, and design. And it is also the biggest market. Japan is strong in raw materials and related equipment. And the Republic of Korea, they have flash memory. Taiwan’s strength is in wafer manufacturing. And the Netherlands makes the critical equipment that is used to make semiconductors. But in the whole ecosystem, you can see that around 80 percent of profits go to the United States. So for semiconductors, I would say the United States is still the leader in this ecosystem. Looking ahead, as we face the AI era, every nation in the semiconductor ecosystem will be extremely important. And the United States will continue to lead the world in this. So Taiwan is very willing to work with the United States to achieve this goal. We want to help the United States reindustrialize and become a global AI hub. We want the United States to continue to lead the world in this new AI era and we want to help make America great again. So with regard to Taiwan’s semiconductor industry, we see it as an important responsibility in terms of ensuring the world’s future prosperity. That is why the Taiwan government has been very supportive of TSMC’s investments in the United States and Japan, as well as Germany. In the future, when the United States has reindustrialized and become a global AI hub, I am sure that TSMC will continue to play a crucial role. Q: Over the course of meetings with various members of your government, I learned something very interesting that has to do with family formation, a problem we have also started to look at in America. It will be very interesting, I think, to the American audience, to hear of countries that are trying to use policy to address issues like encouraging marriage and encouraging children so that a society can replenish – so that there is replenishment and there is resiliency. Could you please speak to some of the ways that you are encouraging people to have more kids here? What is Taiwan doing and how are those initiatives going so far? President Lai: I am very glad that you look positively at what we have been doing in Taiwan. Actually, Taiwan’s policies were made with reference to what the United States and other countries have been doing. Concerning our strategies: first, the government is supporting families in jointly raising children from birth to six years old by providing monthly subsidies. Tuition is also free for both public and private high schools and vocational schools. We also have a long-term care system for senior citizens. Across Taiwan, there are some 15,000 service centers with around 100,000 long-term care staff who look after seniors over the age of 65 as well as people with disabilities so that they can receive quality care. Young people who want to get married and have children are given priority in applying for social housing. If they want to buy a home, they can get government funding to subsidize the interest on their mortgage. And if they are renting, they can get a rent subsidy from the government. For couples who are having problems conceiving, the government subsidizes fertility treatment. We are also cutting taxes. Taiwan’s government is currently investing more in our society and cutting taxes by more than ever before in our history. These initiatives will help our young people feel confident that they can get married, have children, and will be able to raise them. I note that President Trump is also cutting taxes. We want to reduce the burden on households so that more people can start a family. This will promote social stability, prosperity, development, and continual growth for the country.
中文
2025-09-30
President Lai meets US Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg
On the afternoon of September 30, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Luke Lindberg, under secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at the United States Department of Agriculture. In remarks, President Lai stated that Taiwanese businesses plan to purchase US$10 billion of American agricultural products over the next four years, which will boost the efficiency of Taiwan’s livestock industry and enhance its food security. The president expressed hope of utilizing Taiwan’s advantages in the high-tech industry to strengthen cooperation between Taiwan and the US in agricultural technology innovation and food security and resilience, fostering an even more mutually beneficial partnership.  A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: It is a pleasure to once again welcome Under Secretary Lindberg, a good friend of Taiwan, just a year after his previous visit. Taiwan’s agricultural trade goodwill mission just concluded its visit to the US. And now, we are meeting with Under Secretary Lindberg and his delegation of dozens of industry representatives, highlighting the deep friendship and close partnership between Taiwan and the US. I extend a sincere welcome to our guests and applaud this step forward in Taiwan-US trade exchanges. Taiwan is currently the seventh-largest trade partner of the US and its seventh-largest export market for agricultural products. The US has also become Taiwan’s largest investment destination and largest market for agricultural exports. All of this goes to show that, in trade and the agricultural sector, Taiwan and the US are interdependent and enjoy close collaboration. This month, Taiwan’s agricultural mission visited Washington, DC, and several agricultural states, including South Dakota, Under Secretary Lindberg’s home state. This demonstrated that Taiwan is determined to continue elevating the Taiwan-US trade partnership. During the trip, industry representatives from Taiwan and the US signed procurement letters of intent. Taiwanese businesses plan to purchase US$10 billion of American agricultural products, including soybeans, wheat, corn, and beef, over the next four years. We anticipate that importing high-quality raw materials for animal feed will boost the efficiency of Taiwan’s livestock industry. And US agricultural products can also enhance Taiwan’s food security. Taiwan is also a reliable and important partner to the US in technology. Looking forward, we hope to utilize Taiwan’s advantages in the high-tech industry to strengthen cooperation between Taiwan and the US in agricultural technology innovation and food security and resilience. Taiwan faces geopolitical risks and challenges as it is situated on the first island chain in the Indo-Pacific and serves as a crucial hub for global non-red supply chains. I believe that regional neighbors and like-minded countries must join hands to safeguard global peace, stability, and prosperity. This delegation led by Under Secretary Lindberg not only contributes to mutual prosperity in agricultural trade across the public and private sectors, it also symbolizes the firm and steady steps by which we are deepening the strategic and economic partnership between Taiwan and the US. Let us continue to work together to strengthen Taiwan-US relations and contribute even more to global prosperity. Under Secretary Lindberg then delivered remarks, first thanking President Lai for having them here today. He then expressed their sincere best wishes to all of the people in Taiwan who were impacted by Super Typhoon Ragasa. He mentioned that their delegation, consisting of 25 US businesses, is here to help sell US agricultural products and build continued relationships in Taiwan. He also noted that it is a particularly exciting time of year to be here in Taiwan to celebrate the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival, which is a time of cultural importance here in Taiwan.  Under Secretary Lindberg thanked Taiwanese consumers for continuing to purchase American agricultural products, adding that roughly 25 percent of the food that is imported into Taiwan is from the US, contributing to Taiwan’s food security. As a friend of Taiwan, he said, the US is also committed to Taiwan’s resilience through energy security.  Mentioning the recent goodwill mission that Taiwan’s minister of agriculture led to the US last week, Under Secretary Lindberg said that he comes as well with some goodwill for the Taiwanese people, explaining that they have decided to take the next step in allowing Taiwanese producers of pineapple access to the US market. He expressed hope that this will bring great joy and prosperity to many families here in Taiwan as the mid-autumn season begins. The under secretary said he looks forward to their discussion and expressed hope for continued prosperity and growing relations. The delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office by American Institute in Taiwan Acting Director Karin M. Lang.
中文
2025-09-30
President Lai meets delegation led by Japanese House of Councillors LDP Members’ General Assembly Chairperson Matsuyama Masaji
On the morning of September 30, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Japanese Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Members’ General Assembly in the House of Councillors Chairperson Matsuyama Masaji. In remarks, President Lai stated that democratic countries must unite in solidarity in the face of the continued expansion of authoritarian regimes, and expressed hope to further deepen partnerships with Japan in areas such as security, trade, and the economy. He also emphasized jointly establishing democratic non-red supply chains, enhancing economic security, promoting regional peace, contributing even more to the world, and building an even brighter future for the Taiwan-Japan friendship. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I want to sincerely welcome Chairperson Matsuyama and his delegation, who have taken the time to visit Taiwan, and I am grateful for their efforts to further deepen Taiwan-Japan exchanges. I am confident that this visit will help provide a greater understanding of Taiwan’s political and economic situation, as well as the development and achievements of Taiwan-Japan relations. Taiwan and Japan support each other like family. The care and condolences from various groups in Japan regarding the recent disaster in Hualien have been truly moving. Over the years, Taiwan and Japan have worked together to overcome challenges such as earthquakes and the pandemic, and have jointly faced the threat of authoritarian expansion. Japan has not only long remained attentive to the situation in the Taiwan Strait, but has also continued to demonstrate through concrete action its determination to maintain regional peace. Last week, the foreign ministers of the United States, Japan, and Korea convened and issued a joint statement, marking the third time this year that these countries have reaffirmed support for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. They also opposed any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo and voiced concern for the increasingly frequent destabilizing actions in the region. These firm standpoints represent a consensus among the global democratic community. Democratic countries must unite in solidarity in the face of the continued expansion of authoritarian regimes. Taiwan hopes to continue deepening its partnerships with Japan across areas such as security, trade, and the economy, including collaboration in industries like semiconductors, hydrogen energy, AI, and drones to jointly establish democratic non-red supply chains, enhance economic security, and promote regional peace and stability. In 2021, for the first time, the House of Councillors unanimously passed a resolution calling on countries to support Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Assembly. I want to express my gratitude once again and hope that all House of Councillors members will continue to support Taiwan’s international participation, allowing Taiwan to deepen exchanges on global issues and make even greater contributions to the world. I wish the delegation a successful and fruitful visit. I am sure that through our joint efforts, we will build an even brighter future for the Taiwan-Japan friendship. Chairperson Matsuyama then delivered remarks, noting that he visited Taiwan many times during his tenure as president of Junior Chamber International Japan. However, he said, this visit is his first as chairperson of the LDP Members’ General Assembly in the House of Councillors. He said it is an honor to meet President Lai and thanked him for taking the time to receive the delegation despite the recent typhoon in Hualien. He offered condolences for those who lost their lives, and extended sympathies to the injured, expressing his sincere hope that those affected by the disaster can soon return to their normal lives. Chairperson Matsuyama noted that both Taiwan and Japan frequently face natural disasters and have always extended help to each other in times of need. He expressed hope that our countries can further strengthen collaboration in disaster prevention and mitigation. Chairperson Matsuyama mentioned that the delegation visited Kaohsiung the day before to pay tribute with flowers at the bronze statue of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and deeply felt the Taiwanese people’s respect for former Prime Minister Abe and their friendship with Japan. He emphasized that Taiwan is very important to Japan, as our countries share universal values. Economic exchanges and mutual visits between our two countries are frequent, he said, making Taiwan a key partner and friend. He expressed hope that Taiwan and Japan continue deepening exchanges and collaboration. Chairperson Matsuyama then presented President Lai with a list of donations from the delegation for those affected by the recent disaster in Hualien. The delegation also included Japanese House of Councillors Members Watanabe Takeyuki, Ueno Michiko, and Horii Iwao, and was accompanied to the Presidential Office by Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office Chief Representative Katayama Kazuyuki.
中文
2025-10-07
President Lai interviewed by The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
President Lai Ching-te recently met with Stephen Yates, senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation’s Asian Studies Center; Buck Sexton, host of the American radio program The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show; and Mr. Sexton’s brothers Mason and Keats. President Lai was also interviewed by Buck Sexton and responded to questions regarding cross-strait relations, the regional landscape, national defense, the economic and trade partnership between Taiwan and the United States, and Taiwan’s social welfare policies. The interview was broadcast on the early morning of October 7. Following is the text of the questions and the president’s responses: Q: One of the things we’ve noticed that has already gotten some attention back in the States is the sense of civic responsibility here, how respectful and law-biding everyone is, how safe everyone feels on your streets. It is inspiring to tell Americans about this. I also wanted to ask you about the situation right now with your neighbor, China. There’s obviously a lot of global concern about a sense of rhetoric heating up, a sense that there is a pathway now that is becoming more imminent that there could be a crisis. How do you want to describe the situation right now, for specifically an American audience? President Lai: First of all, I am very glad that you have seen a lot of things during your stay in Taiwan and that you are having a fruitful trip so far. I also want to thank you for commending our civil society. In the international community, Taiwan is often lauded as being a place where the most beautiful scenery is actually its people. Recently, due to a typhoon, a barrier lake overflowed in Hualien, causing a significant number of injuries and deaths. Streets and houses were covered in mud. Taiwanese society mobilized to help people affected. We had a long holiday weekend this past weekend. On the first day, 30,000 people traveled to Hualien to offer assistance. And on both the second and third days, another 40,000 went, meaning that over 100,000 people, of their own accord, took their shovels to help those affected. In our society, these people were referred to “superheroes with shovels.” So you can feel that in Taiwan there is a lot of warmth. People are kind. So our streets, at nighttime or daytime, are generally very safe. Your question was about Taiwan’s relations with China. I very much hope that everyone in the world who pays attention to Taiwan-China issues can be clear about several things. Firstly, the Republic of China and the People’s Republic of China are not subordinate to each other. Taiwan is not a part of the PRC. China does not have the right to invade Taiwan. Secondly, China has been holding military exercises in the Taiwan Strait, undermining peace and stability in the region. So it is China – not Taiwan – that is disrupting the cross-strait status quo. The fact that the Taiwanese people seek to protect their sovereignty and pursue a way of life based on democracy, freedom, and human rights should not be seen as a provocation against China. Thirdly, even though Taiwan is facing increasing threats from China, Taiwan has not given up on seeking peace and mutual prosperity across the strait. We understand that peace is priceless and that there are no winners in war. Peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are essential elements of global security and prosperity. Our pursuit of peace is an ideal, not a fantasy. We believe that to achieve peace, there must be strength. Since taking office, I have implemented the Four Pillars of Peace action plan. The first pillar is strengthening Taiwan’s national defense. Our defense spending, as defined by NATO, will reach 3.32 percent of GDP next year. And this will increase to 5 percent of GDP by 2030. We are procuring arms from the United States and partners across the international community. At the same time, we are promoting indigenous defense capabilities. We will work with the international community to codevelop arms, including R&D, design, and manufacturing. This will allow the domestic defense industry to grow and contribute to Taiwan’s security. Drones, unmanned submarines, and robotics are all areas that Taiwan will prioritize in the future. The second pillar is enhancing our economic resilience. In 2010, 83.8 percent of Taiwan’s outbound investment went to China. But last year, this number was only 7 percent. The United States is now Taiwan’s largest destination for outbound investment. In other words, we are not putting all of our eggs in the same basket. We hope that Taiwan’s industries will be rooted in Taiwan, deploy globally, and market across the world. This will not only strengthen our economy but also make it more resilient, thereby safeguarding Taiwan’s security. The third pillar is standing together with the United States and other free and democratic countries to bolster joint deterrence. This will allow us to prevent war by preparing for one. And fourthly, Taiwan is willing to engage in dialogue with China based on parity and dignity. Through exchanges and cooperation, we can achieve the goal of peace and mutual prosperity. I noticed that US President Donald Trump once said publicly that Xi Jinping actually called him and stated that he would not attack Taiwan during President Trump’s term in office. We hope that Taiwan will continue to enjoy the support of President Trump. If he is able to convince Xi Jinping to permanently renounce the use of force against Taiwan, President Trump will surely win the Nobel Peace Prize. Q: If you could speak directly to President Trump about Taiwan’s situation right now, the security situation more specifically, what would you want him to know?  President Lai: If I had the chance to meet President Trump in person and talk about the current cross-strait situation, I would suggest that he take note of the fact that Xi Jinping is not just holding ever-larger military exercises in the Taiwan Strait but expanding China’s military deployment in the South and East China Seas. China’s military exercises now extend across the Indo-Pacific region. Its aircraft carriers are moving beyond the first island chain and second island chain. And its northern fleet even sailed around Japan for a week. Chinese naval vessels also conducted live-fire exercises in Australia’s exclusive economic zone. The situation in the Indo-Pacific region is changing constantly, and tensions are rising. So the issue is not only a possible annexation of Taiwan. If it is able to annex Taiwan, China will be in a stronger position to compete with the United States and alter the rules-based international order. This would eventually also impact US interests. So we hope that President Trump can continue to maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. Taiwan is determined to ensure its national security. We will fulfill our responsibility and work with free and democratic countries to maintain regional peace and stability. Q: Because America has learned some difficult lessons about foreign policy and foreign policy intervention, there is a focus on partners who will carry their weight for their own defense and have a willingness to fight. If anyone in America, policymaker or citizen, has a question about whether Taiwan is willing to defend its own sovereignty, what would you say to them? President Lai: I would tell them that Taiwan is absolutely determined to ensure its own national security. Peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are indispensable elements in global security and prosperity. So when Taiwan looks after its own national security, it shows that Taiwan is committed to protecting regional peace and stability as well. That is why, as I mentioned before, we are continuing to increase our national defense budget. So during former President Tsai Ing-wen’s term, the national defense budget was increased from 1.9 percent of GDP to 2.5 percent. Next year, it will reach 3.32 percent. And we hope to increase this to 5 percent by 2030. This would be five years earlier than NATO’s own goal. Also, we have established the Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee under the Office of the President. This committee brings various sectors of Taiwan together and combines the strengths of the public and private sectors to carry out exercises and drills that enhance whole-of-society defense. I also convened a high-level national security meeting in which we defined the Chinese Communist Party regime as a foreign hostile force; and I proposed 17 strategies to address the five major threats we face from China. These will translate into more than a hundred amendments to our national security laws, which will be reviewed by the Legislative Yuan during the current session. This will put Taiwan on a stronger legal footing, bolster its national defense, and allow people to contribute their power toward safeguarding our nation and protecting regional peace and stability. I believe that people help those who help themselves. So I very much agree with your idea that Taiwan and other countries should meet their own responsibilities. Only by helping ourselves can we expect help from others. And when we show unity and work together, that is when deterrence is at its strongest; and that is when we will be able to safeguard peace and stability in the world. Q: Obviously, there’s a tremendous global and American, specifically, interest in artificial intelligence and the future of it. Also very interesting is the incredible facility that TSMC has built and is building out more in Arizona. I would like to ask you to speak to the economic partnership, specifically in advanced technology, microchip manufacturing, and artificial intelligence, and the relationship between Taiwan and America going forward, and how you view that to grow and bring prosperity for both countries. President Lai: So we all know that Taiwan’s technology industry has performed well. This is the result of decades of cooperation among Taiwan’s industries, government, academia, and R&D sector, as well as the support of the Taiwanese people. But I must also note with appropriate humility that TSMC and the Taiwanese semiconductor industry are still only one part of a bigger ecosystem, and do not represent the whole system. So if you look at the entire semiconductor ecosystem, the United States is strong in areas such as innovation, R&D, and design. And it is also the biggest market. Japan is strong in raw materials and related equipment. And the Republic of Korea, they have flash memory. Taiwan’s strength is in wafer manufacturing. And the Netherlands makes the critical equipment that is used to make semiconductors. But in the whole ecosystem, you can see that around 80 percent of profits go to the United States. So for semiconductors, I would say the United States is still the leader in this ecosystem. Looking ahead, as we face the AI era, every nation in the semiconductor ecosystem will be extremely important. And the United States will continue to lead the world in this. So Taiwan is very willing to work with the United States to achieve this goal. We want to help the United States reindustrialize and become a global AI hub. We want the United States to continue to lead the world in this new AI era and we want to help make America great again. So with regard to Taiwan’s semiconductor industry, we see it as an important responsibility in terms of ensuring the world’s future prosperity. That is why the Taiwan government has been very supportive of TSMC’s investments in the United States and Japan, as well as Germany. In the future, when the United States has reindustrialized and become a global AI hub, I am sure that TSMC will continue to play a crucial role. Q: Over the course of meetings with various members of your government, I learned something very interesting that has to do with family formation, a problem we have also started to look at in America. It will be very interesting, I think, to the American audience, to hear of countries that are trying to use policy to address issues like encouraging marriage and encouraging children so that a society can replenish – so that there is replenishment and there is resiliency. Could you please speak to some of the ways that you are encouraging people to have more kids here? What is Taiwan doing and how are those initiatives going so far? President Lai: I am very glad that you look positively at what we have been doing in Taiwan. Actually, Taiwan’s policies were made with reference to what the United States and other countries have been doing. Concerning our strategies: first, the government is supporting families in jointly raising children from birth to six years old by providing monthly subsidies. Tuition is also free for both public and private high schools and vocational schools. We also have a long-term care system for senior citizens. Across Taiwan, there are some 15,000 service centers with around 100,000 long-term care staff who look after seniors over the age of 65 as well as people with disabilities so that they can receive quality care. Young people who want to get married and have children are given priority in applying for social housing. If they want to buy a home, they can get government funding to subsidize the interest on their mortgage. And if they are renting, they can get a rent subsidy from the government. For couples who are having problems conceiving, the government subsidizes fertility treatment. We are also cutting taxes. Taiwan’s government is currently investing more in our society and cutting taxes by more than ever before in our history. These initiatives will help our young people feel confident that they can get married, have children, and will be able to raise them. I note that President Trump is also cutting taxes. We want to reduce the burden on households so that more people can start a family. This will promote social stability, prosperity, development, and continual growth for the country.
中文