Taiwan-U.S. partnership will continue to be strong: Tsai
ROC Central News Agency
07/06/2023 09:45 PM
Taipei, July 6 (CNA) President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said her country's close partnership with the United States would continue to grow no matter who becomes the next leader of Taiwan during an Independence Day celebration in Taipei on Thursday which the three presidential candidates also attended.
Speaking at the reception to mark the 247th U.S. Independence Day hosted by the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), the de facto U.S. embassy in Taiwan in the absence of official diplomatic ties, President Tsai said the enduring relationship between both countries was planted decades ago "when the U.S. supported Taiwanese people in pursuing democracy."
"Since then, and at every critical juncture of Taiwan's political history, the United States was always there to lend assistance and encouragement to Taiwan," she said.
Investment between Taiwan and the United States is also increasing at an unprecedented rate, according to Tsai, who cited the examples of the world leading Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC's recent investment in the United States, and American companies' expanding investments in Taiwan.
This cooperation has helped provide the world with reliable and secure supply chains, she added.
Recalling the past seven years since she assumed office in May 2016, Tsai said Taiwan and the U.S. have done "quite a lot together and the results have been remarkable."
"This partnership will continue to grow no matter who the next president of Taiwan is," she said.
The country's next presidential election is scheduled for Jan. 13, 2024.
Tsai appealed to the three presidential candidates that joined Thursday's reception, namely, Tsai's deputy Lai Ching-te (賴清德), the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) nominee; the main opposition Kuomintang's (KMT) New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜) and former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) of the Taiwan People's Party.
"I'm sure all the presidential candidates who are here tonight would agree with me without hesitation. Do you want to raise your hands and say yes?" she said, eliciting good natured laughter from the crowd.
Meanwhile, AIT Director Sandra Oudkirk said in her reception address that the Washington-Taipei partnership is now closer than ever, pointing to how bilateral trade increased by nearly 20 percent in 2022.
"And just this past summer, we jointly signed the first agreement of the U.S.-Taiwan Initiatives on 21st Century Trade," she added.
"U.S. support for Taiwan is long standing, unwavering and bipartisan. Our common values of democracy, human rights and freedom form the foundation of our excellent relationship," the director said.
She also thanked President Tsai for working with her on strengthening and expanding U.S.-Taiwan relations since she took up the AIT director post in July 2021.
"Your commitment to ensuring the peace and prosperity of Taiwan is constant, and the United States appreciates your steady leadership in the face of an increasingly complex geopolitical climate," she said.
"I am confident that at the culmination of your tenure as president next year, it will be clear that you left Taiwan in a better position than when you assumed office," she added.
Thursday's reception marked the first time President Tsai attended the reception in person since assuming office in May 2016. In July 2016, she delivered a pre-recorded address during that year's AIT reception.
The reception was also attended by a delegation of visiting American Republican Congress members. They are currently on a five-day visit to Taiwan that began Monday.
The visiting members of the Republican Study Committee (RSC), a group in the United States House of Representatives, is led by Chairman Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, and includes House representatives Burgess Owens, Mike Flood, Mike Collins, Russell Fry and Keith Self.
(By Joseph Yeh)
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