President Tsai meets American Institute in Taiwan Chairperson Laura Rosenberger
On the afternoon of October 16, President Tsai Ing-wen met with American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Chairperson Laura Rosenberger. In remarks, President Tsai said that Taiwan and the United States are staunch partners. She also expressed confidence that with the support of Chairperson Rosenberger, we will continue to deepen our partnership in areas including economic affairs, defense, and international participation, and stand together to address the challenges that face the Indo-Pacific region.
A translation of President Tsai's remarks follows:
It is a pleasure to meet with you again, Chairperson Rosenberger. This is the third time you have visited Taiwan since becoming AIT chairperson this March. This year, both Vice President Lai Ching-te and I have transited through the United States. I thank you for the reception you gave to each of us and I warmly welcome you in return.
Last week, at the Global Taiwan Institute's Annual Symposium, you shared your views on Taiwan-US relations. You spoke about our cooperation in economic affairs, defense, and international participation and noted that the US hopes to deepen our existing ties and plan for the future of our partnership.
I agree with your statement that strengthening mutually beneficial trade and investment ties is one of our foremost priorities. Having signed the first agreement under the Taiwan-US Initiative on 21st-Century Trade, with the second round of negotiations having begun this August, I look forward to our countries maintaining this progress and successfully completing subsequent talks.
Turning to defense and security, I want to thank the Biden administration for focusing great attention on our defense needs and continuing to normalize military sales to Taiwan. This is helping Taiwan bolster its self-defense capabilities as we work together to safeguard regional peace and stability.
Taiwan is also continually strengthening its national defense. Programs for building indigenous jets and submarines have started to yield results. Last month, the launch ceremony took place for our indigenous Narwhal submarine, marking a new milestone in our effort to enhance our self-defense capabilities.
In terms of international participation, during the past few years, Taiwan and the United States have continued to use the Global Cooperation and Training Framework to address common global challenges alongside many other countries. Discussions on such topics as pandemic response, countering disinformation, and climate change have allowed us to share our experiences and formulate joint responses.
Taiwan and the United States are staunch partners. I am sure that with the support of Chairperson Rosenberger, we will continue to comprehensively deepen our partnership and stand together in addressing the challenges that face the Indo-Pacific region. Chairperson Rosenberger, I wish you a successful visit and look forward to our discussion.
Chairperson Rosenberger then delivered remarks, thanking President Tsai for her warm welcome and saying that she was happy to be back in Taiwan seeing good friends. The chairperson also said that she looks forward to her conversation with the president and to her discussions throughout her stay in Taiwan.
Noting that in recent years and even months, which have been quite busy, the US-Taiwan partnership has grown closer than ever, Chairperson Rosenberger highlighted a few key areas of our growing partnership.
First, she stated that enhancing Taiwan's prosperity, resiliency, and ability to contribute its expertise to the global economy is a key priority. She added that initiatives such as the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade help achieve this by strengthening mutually beneficial trade and investment ties.
Through facilitating two-way investment, Chairperson Rosenberger said we are also building more secure, resilient, and sustainable economies, not only in Taiwan and the United States, but also around the world. She also mentioned that we are continuing to look at potential avenues to address the problem of double taxation.
Second, the chairperson said that the United States and Taiwan share a deep and abiding interest in peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. She stated that the US approach has remained consistent under its one China policy guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the three joint communiqués, and the Six Assurances for over 40 years.
Chairperson Rosenberger emphasized that the US commitment to Taiwan is rock-solid, principled, and bipartisan and that the US stands with its friends and will continue to do so. She added that the US welcomes President Tsai's continued commitment to maintaining the status quo.
Chairperson Rosenberger said that as part of its longstanding commitment, consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act, to enable Taiwan to maintain sufficient self-defense capabilities, the United States is seizing upon the full range of tools authorized by Congress, such as presidential drawdown authority and foreign military financing.
Chairperson Rosenberger also commended the Taiwan government's approach and steps to enhance self-defense, such as increasing defense spending and reforming reserve forces, conscription, and mobilization systems.
The chairperson noted that another shared priority for the US and Taiwan is expanding Taiwan's international space by increasing global recognition of the importance of Taiwan and of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
This isn't difficult to do, she said, as Taiwan is a critical economic player, a beacon of democracy in the Indo-Pacific, and a genuine force for good in the world. The chairperson applauded Taiwan's contributions in organizations such as APEC and said she looks forward to Taiwan's participation in the APEC Economic Leaders' Week in San Francisco next month.
Chairperson Rosenberger then thanked the president for her essential efforts as an active partner in these endeavors and said she looks forward to our continued collaboration.
Chairperson Rosenberger was accompanied to the Presidential Office by AIT Taipei Office Director Sandra Oudkirk.