President Lai Ching-te thanked the U.S. Congress for supporting Taiwan’s special defense budget and urged the Legislature to pass the bill to demonstrate the country’s commitment to strengthening self-defense capabilities.
Lai made the remarks while receiving a bipartisan U.S. Senate delegation jointly led by Jeanne Shaheen and John Curtis, members of the Committee on Foreign Relations, March 30 in Taipei City. He expressed appreciation to the U.S. for its commitment to continued arms sales to Taiwan in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act and Six Assurances.
According to Lai, the latest U.S. National Security Strategy stated that Taiwan is key to Indo-Pacific peace and prosperity, and Taiwan asserts that only strength can bring peace. Taiwan’s security policy centers on strengthening self-defense capabilities, deepening cooperation with like-minded partners such as the U.S. and maintaining cross-strait peace and stability, he said.
The national defense budget will exceed 3 percent of Taiwan’s gross domestic product this year, Lai said, noting that the US$40 billion special defense bill aims to build a T-Dome missile defense system, introduce artificial intelligence into the national defense system, develop relevant local industries and promote national defense independence. He stated that the Ministry of National Defense has also discussed military procurement with the U.S., adding that the draft legislation will help integrate Taiwan-U.S. AI and national defense collaboration.
The president thanked the delegation members for supporting the budget. He concluded by noting that this year marks the 30th anniversary of Taiwan’s first presidential election and 250 years since the founding of the U.S., adding that Taiwan cherishes the bilateral friendship and is committed to safeguarding the shared values of freedom, democracy and respect for human rights.
In response, Shaheen said the current trip aims to reaffirm the U.S. Congress’s staunch commitment to Taiwan and cross-strait peace stability based on the TRA. She added that the delegation attaches great importance to not only security cooperation but also bilateral trade and people-to-people exchanges and anticipated that the two sides will continue deepening partnerships.
Curtis said that Taiwan’s stability and security are crucial to the U.S. He praised Taiwan’s achievements in strengthening national defense, whole-of-society resilience and energy security, as well as the government’s work to promote the special defense budget.
Following the meeting, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung held a luncheon to receive the delegation, at which he called on the group to support resolving the Taiwan-U.S. double taxation issue. (YCH-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw
Lai made the remarks while receiving a bipartisan U.S. Senate delegation jointly led by Jeanne Shaheen and John Curtis, members of the Committee on Foreign Relations, March 30 in Taipei City. He expressed appreciation to the U.S. for its commitment to continued arms sales to Taiwan in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act and Six Assurances.
According to Lai, the latest U.S. National Security Strategy stated that Taiwan is key to Indo-Pacific peace and prosperity, and Taiwan asserts that only strength can bring peace. Taiwan’s security policy centers on strengthening self-defense capabilities, deepening cooperation with like-minded partners such as the U.S. and maintaining cross-strait peace and stability, he said.
The national defense budget will exceed 3 percent of Taiwan’s gross domestic product this year, Lai said, noting that the US$40 billion special defense bill aims to build a T-Dome missile defense system, introduce artificial intelligence into the national defense system, develop relevant local industries and promote national defense independence. He stated that the Ministry of National Defense has also discussed military procurement with the U.S., adding that the draft legislation will help integrate Taiwan-U.S. AI and national defense collaboration.
The president thanked the delegation members for supporting the budget. He concluded by noting that this year marks the 30th anniversary of Taiwan’s first presidential election and 250 years since the founding of the U.S., adding that Taiwan cherishes the bilateral friendship and is committed to safeguarding the shared values of freedom, democracy and respect for human rights.
In response, Shaheen said the current trip aims to reaffirm the U.S. Congress’s staunch commitment to Taiwan and cross-strait peace stability based on the TRA. She added that the delegation attaches great importance to not only security cooperation but also bilateral trade and people-to-people exchanges and anticipated that the two sides will continue deepening partnerships.
Curtis said that Taiwan’s stability and security are crucial to the U.S. He praised Taiwan’s achievements in strengthening national defense, whole-of-society resilience and energy security, as well as the government’s work to promote the special defense budget.
Following the meeting, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung held a luncheon to receive the delegation, at which he called on the group to support resolving the Taiwan-U.S. double taxation issue. (YCH-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw
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