President Tsai visits Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
While transiting in Los Angeles on her way to state visits to Paraguay and Belize, President Tsai Ing-wen visited the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on the morning of Monday, August 13 local time (early morning of August 14, Taipei time).
Upon arrival, President Tsai first toured the facility with the library's Director, Duke Blackwood, who explained exhibit items from President Reagan's childhood, his time in the movie industry, and his political career. The exhibit also included the former president's handwritten notes, documents, and photographs, as well as gifts he received when he visited Taiwan.
Standing in front of a Berlin Wall exhibit, President Tsai explained the significance of her visit. She said that President Reagan's lifelong commitment to the values of freedom and democracy had inspired the wave of democracy that brought down the Berlin Wall and presaged the end of the Cold War. She also noted that during his presidency, President Reagan issued the Six Assurances, which have served as an important foundation for US policy on Taiwan to this day, and set the tone for the bilateral relationship between Taiwan and the United States. President Reagan's contributions to the stability of Taiwan-US relations over the past several decades are immeasurable, she said.
President Tsai stated that the values of freedom and democracy are important to Taiwan. She said that as a country that stands behind its commitments, Taiwan is willing to work with other countries—in line with its national interests, as well as the principles of freedom and democracy—to spur regional stability and peace. President Tsai also noted that President Reagan once said something well worth reflecting on—"everything [was] negotiable except two things: our freedom and our future." She said she believes this is how the people of Taiwan feel today.
Following her remarks, President Tsai posed for a group photograph with her delegation and the traveling press corps in front of the Air Force One aircraft that President Reagan had once used.
President Tsai was also accompanied by US New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez, Taiwan's National Security Council Secretary-General David T. Lee (李大維); Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮); Minister of the Overseas Community Affairs Council Wu Hsin-hsing (吳新興); Legislators Hsiao Bi-Khim (蕭美琴), Lee Chun-Yi (李俊俋), Chen Yi-Chieh (陳怡潔), and Tsai Shih-Ying (蔡適應); and ROC (Taiwan) Representative to the United States Stanley Kao (高碩泰).