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State department officials to speak at U.S.-Taiwan defense industry meet

ROC Central News Agency

10/02/2023 01:35 PM

Washington, Oct. 1 (CNA) Mira K. Resnick, a U.S. Department of State official, is scheduled to make an address during an annual conference on defense industry cooperation between the United States and Taiwan, the event's organizers said Sunday.

This marks the second consecutive year that the State Department's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs is sending representatives to speak at the annual US-Taiwan Defense Industry Conference taking place in Virginia from Oct. 1-3 (Eastern Time), according to the US-Taiwan Business Council.

Aside from Resnick, who is the deputy assistant secretary of state for regional security in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Jedidiah P. Royal, the principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs, will also speak at the 22nd edition of the defense industry conference, the organizers said.

According to Rupert Hammond-Chambers, president of the council, this year's conference will be the largest ever, featuring more than 200 participants from the Taiwanese and American governments, along with defense industry representatives, to discuss the future of bilateral defense cooperation.

In accordance with long-standing practice, Taiwan's government is sending a vice defense minister to give keynote address during the annual meet. This year the delegation is to be led by Hsu Yen-pu (徐衍璞), vice minister of defense in charge of armaments.

Laura Rosenberger, chair of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), and Hammond-Chambers will provide introductory comments before Hsu's address, according to the agenda.

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

Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party and main opposition Kuomintang also traditionally send party representatives to the meeting. And for the first time, Taiwan's third largest party, the Taiwan People's Party that was founded by former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) in 2019, is also sending a delegation to the conference.

Hammond-Chambers said he is more than happy to see all three main political parties of Taiwan are participating the conference, showing they are attaching great importance to the annual meet.

Other big names set to attend the conference include former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Randall Schriver, who is now the chair of The Project 2049 Institute, a Washington-based think tank.

Two retired senior American generals -- former U.S. Marine Lieutenant General Steven R. Rudder, and former Admiral in the U.S. Navy and former Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet Scott Swift -- will also be in attendance.

Panelists will highlight how industry in the U.S. and Taiwan can cooperate to provide solutions, with the discussion focused on how to help boost Taiwan's defense by improving flexibility and enhancing resilience, according to the press release.

Since its 2002 debut, the annual conference has aimed to facilitate engagement between the American defense industry and the U.S. and Taiwan governments on security matters, according to organizers.

(By Chiang Chin-yeh and Joseph Yeh)

Enditem /ASG