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Taiwan is U.S. valued friend and important partner: New AIT chair

ROC Central News Agency

04/19/2023 07:10 PM

Taipei, April 19 (CNA) The new chair of the de facto U.S. embassy to Taiwan on Wednesday told President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) that Taiwan is an important friend and partner of America.

"Taiwan is a valued friend and an important trade partner [to the U.S.] and is critical in maintaining peace and stability," Chair of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Laura Rosenberger told Tsai during their meeting at the Presidential Office.

Making her first visit to Taiwan since assuming the AIT chairperson position on March 20, Rosenberger said AIT is responsible for managing unofficial relations between the U.S. and Taiwan.

"Regular travel to Taiwan and engaging with you is a key part of that responsibility, one that I very much look forward to," said Rosenberger, a former senior national security director for China and Taiwan to U.S. President Joe Biden.

Rosenberger said she was also looking forward to meeting with other members of the Tsai administration as well as leaders from Taiwan's business community, civil society and political parties, "in order to get a deeper sense of the people and society in your vibrant democracy."

For her part, Tsai praised Rosenberger as an expert in U.S. foreign affairs and national security, having served in the White House and the Department of State.

Most recently, Rosenberger held the position of senior national security director for China and Taiwan in the Biden administration.

Tsai said during her time in the National Security Council, Rosenberger played a critical role in facilitating the donation of 4 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to Taiwan and the invitation of Taiwan to the inaugural Summit for Democracy in 2021.

The president also thanked her for promoting closer cooperation between the two countries and expanding Taiwan's international space.

Rosenberger arrived in Taiwan Tuesday for a six-day visit. AIT represents U.S. interests in Taiwan in the absence of official diplomatic ties.

It is headquartered in Virginia but has a main office in Taipei and a branch office in Kaohsiung.

Its Taipei director serves as the top U.S. envoy to Taiwan while its chair serves more of a ceremonial role.

According to AIT, its chair is elected by the Board of AIT's Washington Headquarters to "provide oversight of management and operations, and provide policy advice on Taiwan-related issues."

While in Taiwan, Rosenberger will meet with Taiwan's "interlocutors and the business community to discuss a range of issues of mutual importance, including U.S.-Taiwan relations, regional security, and trade and investment," AIT said in a Facebook post.

A Reuters report published in March cited four people familiar with the Biden administration's thinking as saying that Rosenberger will take a more "hands-on approach" to unofficial ties with Taiwan than her immediate two predecessors.

A major focus of her job, the people said, will be to maintain communication channels with candidates in Taiwan's presidential election in early 2024, a potentially fraught moment between Taipei and Beijing, according to Reuters.

(By Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/AW