Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)

On the morning of October 8, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by United States House Committee on the Budget Ranking Member Brendan Boyle of the Democratic Party. In remarks, President Lai thanked the US Congress for its enduring and steadfast support for Taiwan. He emphasized that Taiwan holds a key position on the first island chain, and not only possesses an unwavering resolve to defend peace across the Taiwan Strait, but also firmly believes that peace can only be secured through strength. The president stated that Taiwan will continue to increase its national defense budget and actively bolster its self-defense capabilities. He expressed hope to further deepen defense cooperation with the US, saying that together, we can make even greater contributions to Indo-Pacific peace and stability.

A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:

I would like to express my gratitude to this delegation for visiting Taiwan at this very special time, two days ahead of our National Day. Your presence fully demonstrates the US Congress’s high regard and support for Taiwan. This year marks the 250th anniversary of the founding of the US, as well as the 30th anniversary of Taiwan’s first direct presidential election. Representative Boyle represents a district of Philadelphia – a city of great significance in the conception of the Declaration of Independence. The democratic journeys of both Taiwan and the US remind us that freedom and democracy do not arise merely by happenstance and cannot be taken for granted; they must be protected from generation to generation and attended to continuously if they are to strengthen and flourish.

In recent years, China has continued to engage in military activities, gray-zone aggression, long-arm jurisdiction, and transnational repression against nations around the South and East China Seas, the Taiwan Strait, and the Western Pacific. It is attempting to unilaterally alter the status quo across the Taiwan Strait and undermine regional peace and stability. Only by standing united and cooperating closely can democracies safeguard the values and way of life upon which their existence depends.

Taiwan holds a key position on the first island chain. We not only possess an unwavering resolve to defend peace across the Taiwan Strait, but also firmly believe that peace can only be secured through strength. Therefore, in addition to continuing to increase our national defense budget and investing even more resources to promote self-sufficiency in national defense, we are actively pursuing external military procurement to bolster our self-defense capabilities. We are also advancing whole-of-society defense resilience to achieve the goal of military-civilian cooperation.

We look forward to further deepening defense cooperation with the US and moving progressively from military procurement to joint research and development and joint production. Such efforts will enhance the resilience and capacity of our respective defense industries. In particular, we hope for greater cooperation in building drone and counter-drone systems, employing AI to support military decision-making, and enhancing logistical and operational effectiveness. Together, we can make even greater contributions to Indo-Pacific peace and stability.

Over the past two years, Taiwan has also continued to strengthen whole-of-society defense resilience. In September, we hosted an international forum on building resilience across the maritime, cybersecurity, and critical infrastructure domains. We also established the World Alliance for Disaster Management, inviting central and local disaster prevention authorities from countries worldwide to take part in assembling a comprehensive international disaster prevention system. New York’s Orange County and the state of Oregon are observers to the alliance.

In addition to security cooperation, we are also committed to elevating Taiwan-US economic and trade relations. Currently, the US is Taiwan’s largest trading partner, and Taiwan is the fourth largest trading partner of the US. We hope that Congress can swiftly complete legislative procedures for the avoidance of double taxation agreement between Taiwan and the US. This will further lower investment barriers, create an even more favorable environment for bilateral economic and trade cooperation, and generate stronger momentum for growth.

In closing, I would like to express my gratitude to Representative Boyle once again for leading this delegation, as well as to the US Congress for its enduring and steadfast support for Taiwan. We look forward to continuing to work hand in hand to deepen the Taiwan-US partnership. I wish you all a smooth and rewarding visit.

Representative Boyle then delivered remarks, saying that this is the first visit to Taiwan for both him and the two other representatives in the delegation, and that it is extra special to be here just a couple days before National Day. He noted that located in his congressional district in Philadelphia is Independence Hall, where 250 years ago, their forebears in the Second Continental Congress bravely and boldly voted on July 2, 1776 to become an independent nation, independent from Great Britain. In making this bold decision, he said, they decided they should explain, not just to the British king, but to the rest of the world, why they were voting to become independent. Therefore, he said, they appointed a committee of five that included Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams to draft what would later become the Declaration of Independence.

Representative Boyle explained that this is perhaps the most successful committee in the history of Congress, because the document they drafted, and would adopt on July 4, 1776, would become known as the Declaration of Independence. He added that in that document, they declared not just the rights of one people, but the rights of all people. For the last 250 years, he said, the people of the US have strived to live up to the lofty ideals set forth in the Declaration of Independence, and their nation’s democracy has indeed been a journey.

Representative Boyle remarked that the US and Taiwan, and likewise, the American people and the Taiwanese people, have a great deal in common, because Taiwan’s democracy also underwent a journey to reach this point. He stated that the American people and the Taiwanese people are deeply connected by shared values, including a commitment to freedom and human rights. Our democracies, he said, as imperfect as they may be, are a shining example to those around the world who are still struggling to be free, which he said is especially the case for some nations in Asia.

Representative Boyle stated that the delegation very much enjoys being in Taiwan, and that they look forward to their discussion and to reaffirming the importance of the US-Taiwan relationship. He closed his remarks by wishing all a happy National Day.

The delegation also included House of Representatives Members Andrea Salinas and Tim Kennedy.