President Tsai Ing-wen met with a contingent of policy analysts and experts from Washington-based Hudson Institute led by Board of Trustees Chair Sarah May Stern and President John Walters Jan. 31 in Taipei City.
Tsai expressed gratitude for the group’s visit closely following Taiwan’s presidential and legislative elections, the peaceful and smooth conclusion of which she said demonstrates Taiwan’s firm commitment to democracy.
The president also took the opportunity to thank the U.S. government and Congress for providing security assistance to Taiwan via regular arms sales. With the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 in both the Senate and House of Representatives, bilateral security partnership has deepened substantially, she said.
According to Tsai, Hudson Institute is an influential foreign policy and security think tank. Over the years, it has staunchly backed Taiwan by organizing delegations, hosting conferences on related issues, publishing articles speaking up for the country and standing with Taiwan in the face of authoritarian aggression, all of which is highly appreciated by the government and people, she added.
The president said the country has become a “Taiwan of the world” thanks to the support of the institute and other like-minded partners. Tsai vowed to continue strengthening cooperation with other democracies on global issues across the board.
In response, Stern said institute members believe the solid bond between Taiwan and the U.S. benefits the whole international community, adding that it was a highlight of last year to present Tsai the Global Leadership Award in New York. Stern lauded Taiwan’s mature democratic system, with its recent competitive yet fair, free and open elections, and congratulated the president for her skillful navigation of one of the most difficult political positions in the world. (POC-E)
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