Recent US guests visits have strengthened Taiwan’s resolve to defend itself, President Tsai Ing-wen said on Friday (Aug 26), as she met the latest US lawmaker to visit the island in defiance of Beijing.
After US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the island in early August, China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory despite the strong objections of the democratically elected government in Taipei, began military drills near the island.
A week later, she was joined by five other lawmakers, and Senator Marsha Blackburn arrived in Taipei late Thursday.
Tsai praised the visits during a meeting at the presidential office.
“Many public figures from various segments of US society have recently visited Taiwan. These generous acts of kindness and firm demonstrations of support have strengthened Taiwan’s resolve to defend itself “She made the remarks live on Tsai’s social media pages.
The United States, like most other countries, has no formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan but is required by law to provide it with means of self-defense.
Tsai was told by Blackburn, a Republican from Tennessee who serves on the Senate Commerce and Armed Services committees, that the United States and Taiwan shared freedom and democracy values.
“It is critical that freedom-loving nations support Taiwan as it seeks to maintain its independence and freedom,” she said.
Tsai stated that fellow democracies must collaborate to ensure more secure and resilient supply chains, and she is “delighted” to see Taiwanese semiconductor companies investing in the US.
“We also look forward to working with the United States to strengthen cooperation in semiconductors and other high-tech sectors, as well as jointly responding to the post-pandemic economic challenges.”
Taiwan is a major chip producer, and shortages have impacted global supply chains.
Tsai stated that Taiwan wants to be “further integrated” into the Biden administration’s new Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, from which the island has been excluded, as well as other regional economic cooperation architecture.
Legislators from the United States are not the only ones who come. Tsai also hosted two Japanese legislators this week, and British and Canadian legislators are expected later this year.
“It demonstrates that Taiwan is not alone in dealing with the big bully across the Taiwan Strait,” Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said at a separate event, referring to China.
China’s massive military drills around Taiwan have only fueled allies’ desire to visit the island democracy and express solidarity, he added.
Wu also stated that Taiwan will continue to make friends despite Chinese threats against the island.
“Because of China’s military pressure on Taiwan, there are more people than ever who want to come and show their support,” he said.
“A lot of international friends have already expressed an interest in visiting Taiwan, and the purpose is very simple – just to show solidarity.”
Beijing has never ruled out using force to seize control of Taiwan.
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command announced on Wednesday that it had recently conducted military exercises in the waters and airspace surrounding Taiwan.
“This is a routine military operation organized in response to changes in the Taiwan Strait situation,” it said, adding that troops would continue to train and prepare for war.
Taiwan’s government claims that the People’s Republic of China has never ruled the island and thus has no right to claim it and that only the island’s 23 million people can decide its fate.
