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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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He then conveyed warm greetings from His Majesty King Mswati III and the Indlovukazi and the people of Eswatini, extending their sincerest appreciation for the unwavering support and friendship that Taiwan has consistently demonstrated towards their nation. He remarked that their visit to Taiwan has been a remarkable journey filled with insightful meetings, enriching cultural exchanges, and a deepened understanding of Taiwan’s remarkable achievements in various fields. He noted that they are particularly impressed by Taiwan’s technological advancement, vibrant democracy, commitment to social welfare, and environmental sustainability, adding that these are qualities they admire and aspire to emulate in their own development endeavors in Eswatini. Speaker Mabuza said that President Lai’s leadership and vision for Taiwan’s future are truly inspiring, and that the emphasis on innovation, education, and people-centered policies resonates deeply with their own national aspirations. He stated that as we navigate the challenges of our time, from climate change to economic inequality, they believe our nations can learn from each other and work together to find solutions that benefit not just our peoples, but the global community at large. Speaker Mabuza pointed out that diplomatic relations between our two countries are a testament to our shared values of sovereignty, mutual respect, and cooperation. He stated that Eswatini cherishes the strong bonds we have forged over the years and is committed to further strengthening those ties. Whether through economic partnership, cultural exchanges, or collaborative efforts in areas such as healthcare and technology, he said, they see vast potential for growth and mutual benefit.  Speaker Mabuza expressed hope of continuing our fruitful relationship and exploring new avenues of cooperation so that together, we can build a brighter future for our citizens and contribute positively to regional and global peace and prosperity. In closing, the speaker once again thanked Taiwan for the warm hospitality and for being a steadfast friend to the Kingdom of Eswatini. The delegation also included House of Assembly Members Lindiwe Mamba, Joseph Souza, Jabulane M. Simelane, and Allen Vilane.
中文
2025-12-04
President Lai interviewed by The New York Times DealBook Summit
In a recent interview via videoconference with The New York Times for its DealBook Summit, President Lai Ching-te responded to questions from host Andrew Ross Sorkin on topics including Taiwan’s national defense, cross-strait relations, Taiwan-US relations, the Russia-Ukraine war, and the semiconductor industry. The interview was broadcast in the early morning of December 4. The DealBook Summit is a major annual event held by The New York Times aimed at facilitating dialogue among leaders from various sectors and sharing their insights and analyses on international affairs. This year’s summit was held on December 3 (US EST) in New York, and included such speakers as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Palantir CEO Alex Karp, and Turning Point USA CEO and Chair of the Board Erika Kirk. The following is the full text of the interview: Q: Here’s where I want to start the conversation. You’ve just announced this past week that you’re introducing a US$40 billion special budget for military spending to buy more weapons from the US to try to deter China from invading Taiwan. What indicators, and perhaps new indicators, are you looking at that shows an increased threat to Taiwan? President Lai: We can see that China’s military drills targeted at Taiwan are becoming increasingly frequent and intense. They have even moved beyond the first island chain into the second, affecting the wider Indo-Pacific region. At the same time, China’s united front influence campaigns against Taiwan are also becoming more serious. In order to safeguard national security and fulfill our responsibility to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, we have announced this special defense budget. We believe that peace is priceless, and war has no winners. While we aspire to peace, we cannot harbor illusions about it. Peace must be secured through strength. This is why we are increasing our defense budget and strengthening our national defense capabilities, while also cutting back our economic dependence on China. This includes improving our economic resilience. In 2010, 83.8 percent of Taiwan’s outbound investment went to China; last year, that figure had dropped to around 7 percent. We are also working side-by-side with other democracies to reinforce deterrence. Robust preparations are the best way to avoid war and achieve peace. Q: Let me ask you this: President Xi has said that his goal for China’s military is to be capable of taking Taiwan by force by 2027. You said that Beijing is accelerating these preparations for an attempted invasion. So what do you think China’s timeline is now? President Lai: We must ensure the best possible preparations for the worst-case scenarios. Whatever timeline the PLA may have, Taiwan’s fundamental principle is that we must be ready first – this is our basic principle. I also want to use this opportunity to reiterate to the international community that Taiwan will do everything necessary to protect itself and to safeguard regional peace and stability. We are grateful to the international community, including the G7, the president of the United States, Japan’s political leaders, and many others for their interest in cross-strait peace and emphasizing that stability in the Taiwan Strait is essential to global security and prosperity. Their shared position greatly contributes to stability in Taiwan and peace in the region. We hope Taiwan can continue working with the international community to uphold the rules-based international order. Q: Well, let me ask you about that because, Mr. President, last week you said the relationship between Taiwan and the US is rock-solid. How confident are you that the United States, and in particular President Trump, would come to the aid of Taiwan if China were to invade? President Lai: Although Taiwan and the United States do not have official diplomatic relations, Taiwan is deeply grateful to the US Congress for passing the Taiwan Relations Act and to President Ronald Reagan for the Six Assurances. For decades, successive US administrations and both parties in Congress have strongly supported Taiwan based on this foundation. Our relationship truly is rock-solid. Since President Trump took office, cooperation with Taiwan has not only continued but even expanded. We look forward to working with the United States through tariff negotiations – not only to help address their trade deficit, but also to deepen bilateral economic relations and strengthen our friendship. Q: We’ve all been watching what’s been happening play out in Ukraine between Ukraine and Russia. And there have been questions inside Ukraine about the support that the United States has provided or not in terms of how this ultimately gets settled. How do you view what’s happening in Ukraine right now and the role that the US is playing there? President Lai: Taiwan stands with the people of Ukraine. We hope this irrational and illegitimate war will be over as soon as possible so that the Ukrainian people will no longer have to suffer. However, in ending this war, we also hope that Ukraine’s national dignity and the well-being of its people will be respected, and future conflict will be prevented. Q: You talked about trade earlier. When you talk about the relationship between the US and Taiwan, one of the reasons that Taiwan is so valuable, such a strategic asset – and President Trump talks about it this way about Taiwan – is because of semiconductors. And one of the things that he says is that he hopes that the US is going to be manufacturing 40 to 50 percent of all semiconductors in the next couple of years with your help. Does that make Taiwan more valuable ultimately to the US or do you worry at all that it makes it less valuable to the US? President Lai: Taiwan’s semiconductor industry plays a crucial role, especially as we enter the future AI era. But I want to emphasize, with humility, that Taiwan’s semiconductor sector is a global asset. The industry functions as an ecosystem: the US excels in R&D, design, and has the world’s largest market; Japan provides materials and equipment; the Netherlands makes advanced lithography systems; Taiwan specializes in logic chip manufacturing; and Korea leads in flash memory chips. In other words, semiconductors are a global ecosystem – it requires worldwide cooperation to be effective. This is why our government supports TSMC and other Taiwanese semiconductor firms as they invest in the US, Japan, Europe, or wherever they believe is needed. This contributes to global progress and prosperity. As a result, we remain supportive as President Trump seeks investments from Taiwanese semiconductor companies and suppliers in the US. We hope Taiwan can support the reindustrialization of the US. President Trump wants the US to become the world center for AI, and we are willing to assist in this. As I said earlier, we hope Taiwan-US tariff negotiations will not only help reduce the US trade deficit, but also deepen bilateral economic cooperation, further integrate Taiwan’s industries with the American economic structure, and strengthen the Taiwan-US relationship. This will contribute to global prosperity and development. Q: Do you think that President Trump’s timeline, this idea that 40 to 50 percent of all semiconductors could be manufactured in the United States in the next two or three years, is realistic? President Lai: We understand President Trump’s sense of urgency; he wants the United States to maintain an edge in global competition. Whether this target of 40 to 50 percent can be achieved within this timeframe depends not only on Taiwan’s support but also on the US government’s ability to facilitate land acquisition, water and electricity supply, workforce and talent development, and investment incentives. If the US government manages to do this well and effectively, then this goal becomes much more achievable. Q: There’s a big debate in the United States right now about whether companies like Nvidia should be allowed to sell their most advanced chips to China. And there has not been a real answer yet here in the US. I’m curious what you think about that. Do you think that the most advanced chips should be allowed to be exported to China? President Lai: As Taiwan’s president, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on US domestic policy. But I can share an experience: Around the year 2000, Taiwan faced a similar debate about whether our advanced chip manufacturing capabilities should move to mainland China. There was an extensive and thorough discussion across society and among different political parties. The consensus was that it would be unwise and should not happen. Looking back, that decision was correct. Had Taiwan allowed its most advanced manufacturing to relocate to China, Taiwan would not be what it is today. Q: Final question for you. Your economy is red hot right now, in large part because of the AI boom. It’s a two-part question. I wonder whether you’re worried about an AI boom being an AI bubble. And I’m also curious how you think about the Chinese economy today and how that relates to how President Xi even views Taiwan, and when and if it would consider either invading or, through using the gray zone, trying to effectively cut off or control Taiwan. President Lai: There are many different views in the tech and economic communities. Some say AI could become a bubble; others say it may not. As a political leader, I believe the AI era will bring greater convenience to people’s lives, stimulate economic development, and contribute to global prosperity. That is why we must take steps to prevent AI from becoming a bubble. In other words, leaders around the world – especially those from countries with AI-related industries – should work together and take necessary measures to ensure AI develops sustainably and has a soft landing, so that it can drive long-term global growth. China’s economy is indeed struggling. Taiwan’s growth rate this year is projected to reach 7.37 percent, while international financial institutions estimate China’s growth to be only a little above 4 percent. We sincerely hope that as China faces economic pressures, President Xi Jinping will focus not on territorial expansion but on improving the well-being of the Chinese people. Taiwan is willing to help and to cooperate in addressing these economic challenges.
中文