Visiting AIT chair praises Taiwan defense reforms, reiterates U.S. support
ROC Central News Agency
10/16/2023 05:03 PM
Taipei, Oct. 16 (CNA) Visiting American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Chairwoman Laura Rosenberger on Monday reiterated Washington's pledge to help Taipei defend itself with a "full range of tools" while praising ongoing efforts to enhance the country's self-defense capabilities.
Speaking to President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) during a meeting in the Presidential Office, Rosenberger said the U.S. approach toward Taiwan has remained consistent "over the past 40 years and across administrations."
"We stand with our friends and will continue to do so," the AIT chair said.
As part of that decades-long commitment, Washington is continuing its efforts to enable Taiwan to maintain "sufficient self-defense capabilities," she said.
"The United States is seizing upon the full range of tools authorized by Congress, such as Presidential Drawdown Authority and Foreign Military Financing [to reach that goal]," Rosenberger added.
The AIT head lauded the Tsai administration's decision to enhance Taiwan's self-defense capabilities through initiatives such as increasing defense spending and reforming its reserve forces, conscription and mobilization systems.
Meanwhile, the AIT chair welcomed Taiwan's participation at next month's Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' meeting in San Francisco.
Calling Taiwan a "critical economic player, a beacon of democracy in the Indo-Pacific, and a genuine force for good in the world," Rosenberger applauded Taiwan's contributions to APEC since joining the organization in 1991.
Tsai, meanwhile, thanked U.S. President Joe Biden's administration for focusing with "great attention" on Taiwan's defense needs and continuing to "normalize arm sales" to Taiwan.
"This is helping Taiwan bolster its self-defense capabilities as we jointly work to safeguard regional peace and stability," Tsai told Rosenberger.
On economic and trade, Taiwan and the United States have also kicked off a second round of negotiations under a bilateral trade initiative, titled the "United States-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade," Tsai said.
Describing Taiwan and the U.S. as "staunch partners," the president said both countries will continue to deepen their partnership and stand together in addressing the challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region.
Rosenberger is making her third trip to Taiwan since becoming AIT chair on March 20. She arrived in the country on Sunday and is scheduled to depart on Friday.
The AIT represents U.S. interests in Taiwan in the absence of official diplomatic ties.
It is headquartered in Virginia and has a main office in Taipei and a branch office in Kaohsiung.
Its Taipei director serves as the top U.S. envoy to Taiwan, with the chairperson holding a more ceremonial role.
A Reuters report published in March predicted that Rosenberger would take a more "hands-on approach" to building unofficial ties with Taiwan than her two immediate predecessors, citing four people familiar with the Biden administration's thinking.
A major focus of her job, the report said, will be to maintain communication channels with candidates in Taiwan's presidential election on Jan. 13, 2024, which could affect the dynamic between Taipei and Beijing.
The main opposition Kuomintang chose New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜) as its candidate, and he will face Vice President Lai Ching-te (賴清德), the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's nominee, and former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) of the Taiwan People's Party.
Rosenberger has so far this year met all three candidates in Taipei or the U.S.
(By Joseph Yeh)
Enditem/ASG
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