President Lai Ching-te said July 30 that Taiwan is committed to advancing its national defense reforms, strengthening asymmetric warfare capabilities and enhancing whole-of-society defense resilience to deepen cooperation with the U.S. and further contribute to international peace and stability.
Lai made the remarks while receiving a delegation from the U.S.-based think tank Institute for Indo-Pacific Security and called the visit a demonstration of the U.S.’ long-standing and robust support for Taiwan. The group was led by the institute’s chair, Randall G. Schriver.
The president said that this year marks the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence and the 30th anniversary of Taiwan’s first direct presidential election. He also stressed that only strength can achieve peace in the face of growing coercion from China, describing Beijing’s implementation of a transnational repression law earlier this month.
According to Lai, Taiwan’s defense spending this year has exceeded 3 percent of its gross domestic product and will reach 5 percent by 2030. The government is promoting a special budget to purchase unmanned vehicles to establish a drone offense and defense system, he said, thanking Schriver for emphasizing that Taiwan must establish its own drone system during conversations with media upon his arrival the previous day.
Taiwan and the U.S. also enjoy a close relationship that yields prosperous development for both, the president said, noting that the U.S. is Taiwan’s largest trading partner while Taiwan is the U.S.’ fourth-largest trading partner. He added that 26 U.S. states and territories have established offices in Taiwan, and Taiwan is set to open its 14th U.S. economic and cultural office in Phoenix, Arizona.
Lai noted that the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on bilateral investment earlier this year, in addition to the U.S.-Taiwan Agreement on Reciprocal Trade, the Joint Statement on the Pax Silica Declaration and the U.S.-Taiwan Economic Security Cooperation. Taiwan will further reduce trade barriers and ensure the resilience of high-tech supply chains with the U.S. based on mutual benefit, he added.
Schriver responded that this visit has shown him Taiwan’s defense and economic progress over the past year. He added that the delegation intends to explore ways to deepen Taiwan-U.S. cooperation in relevant areas and hopes to learn how to become a better partner to Taiwan during the trip. (YCH-E)
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Lai made the remarks while receiving a delegation from the U.S.-based think tank Institute for Indo-Pacific Security and called the visit a demonstration of the U.S.’ long-standing and robust support for Taiwan. The group was led by the institute’s chair, Randall G. Schriver.
The president said that this year marks the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence and the 30th anniversary of Taiwan’s first direct presidential election. He also stressed that only strength can achieve peace in the face of growing coercion from China, describing Beijing’s implementation of a transnational repression law earlier this month.
According to Lai, Taiwan’s defense spending this year has exceeded 3 percent of its gross domestic product and will reach 5 percent by 2030. The government is promoting a special budget to purchase unmanned vehicles to establish a drone offense and defense system, he said, thanking Schriver for emphasizing that Taiwan must establish its own drone system during conversations with media upon his arrival the previous day.
Taiwan and the U.S. also enjoy a close relationship that yields prosperous development for both, the president said, noting that the U.S. is Taiwan’s largest trading partner while Taiwan is the U.S.’ fourth-largest trading partner. He added that 26 U.S. states and territories have established offices in Taiwan, and Taiwan is set to open its 14th U.S. economic and cultural office in Phoenix, Arizona.
Lai noted that the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on bilateral investment earlier this year, in addition to the U.S.-Taiwan Agreement on Reciprocal Trade, the Joint Statement on the Pax Silica Declaration and the U.S.-Taiwan Economic Security Cooperation. Taiwan will further reduce trade barriers and ensure the resilience of high-tech supply chains with the U.S. based on mutual benefit, he added.
Schriver responded that this visit has shown him Taiwan’s defense and economic progress over the past year. He added that the delegation intends to explore ways to deepen Taiwan-U.S. cooperation in relevant areas and hopes to learn how to become a better partner to Taiwan during the trip. (YCH-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw
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