President Lai Ching-te received a delegation led by U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth at the Presidential Office in Taipei City. Delegation members included Michael Frerichs, Illinois state treasurer, and Paul Faraci, Illinois senator, the PO said.
Lai noted that Taiwan and the U.S. are important economic and strategic partners and singled out cooperation in the drone sector to facilitate reciprocal economic and defense development, strengthen democratic and scientific resilience and contribute to peace and prosperity.
Lai further thanked Duckworth for leading a cross-party senate resolution to commemorate Taiwan’s 30th anniversary of direct presidential elections in March this year. He stated that over the years Duckworth has proposed multiple Taiwan friendly resolutions and citing her advocacy for vaccine donations to Taiwan.
Regarding the cross-strait relationship, Lai said Taiwan is committed to enhanced self-defense capabilities as evidenced by the current defense budget standing at over 3 percent of gross domestic product and forecast to reach 5 percent by 2030.
Lai thanked Duckworth, a military veteran, for facilitating Taiwan-U.S. cooperation in the unmanned aerial vehicle industry. He anticipated Taiwan in a future role as an Asian industry hub in the field, with U.S. congress, government and senate support.
Duckworth stated that U.S. congressional support for Taiwan spanned the economy, humanitarian relief and security cooperation. Taiwan’s security is closely linked to that of the U.S., as conflict in the Taiwan Strait could result in a financial global impact of around US$10 trillion, she added.
Taiwan became the fourth largest trading partner for the U.S. in 2025 and the U.S. became Taiwan’s largest trading partner in the first quarter of this year. The government will continue to encourage mutual investment and commercial exchange. (POC-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw
Lai noted that Taiwan and the U.S. are important economic and strategic partners and singled out cooperation in the drone sector to facilitate reciprocal economic and defense development, strengthen democratic and scientific resilience and contribute to peace and prosperity.
Lai further thanked Duckworth for leading a cross-party senate resolution to commemorate Taiwan’s 30th anniversary of direct presidential elections in March this year. He stated that over the years Duckworth has proposed multiple Taiwan friendly resolutions and citing her advocacy for vaccine donations to Taiwan.
Regarding the cross-strait relationship, Lai said Taiwan is committed to enhanced self-defense capabilities as evidenced by the current defense budget standing at over 3 percent of gross domestic product and forecast to reach 5 percent by 2030.
Lai thanked Duckworth, a military veteran, for facilitating Taiwan-U.S. cooperation in the unmanned aerial vehicle industry. He anticipated Taiwan in a future role as an Asian industry hub in the field, with U.S. congress, government and senate support.
Duckworth stated that U.S. congressional support for Taiwan spanned the economy, humanitarian relief and security cooperation. Taiwan’s security is closely linked to that of the U.S., as conflict in the Taiwan Strait could result in a financial global impact of around US$10 trillion, she added.
Taiwan became the fourth largest trading partner for the U.S. in 2025 and the U.S. became Taiwan’s largest trading partner in the first quarter of this year. The government will continue to encourage mutual investment and commercial exchange. (POC-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw
from Taiwan Today – Top News