A visiting US delegation met President William Lai to discuss expanding Taiwan support against China’s coercion. Randall Schriver, chairman of the Institute for Indo-Pacific Security, led the delegation’s visit. He explained the group hopes to learn better ways of partnering with Taiwan strategically.
According to Schriver, China continues pressuring Taiwan through military intimidation and escalating legal tactics. Furthermore, he described these efforts as squeezing Taiwan’s international space through coordinated coercive measures. Consequently, the delegation seeks concrete methods to strengthen cooperation across defense, trade and economics.
Schriver praised Taiwan’s progress, highlighting its strengthening economy and improving defense and coast guard capabilities. Additionally, he drew parallels between America’s founding struggles and Taiwan’s own democratic milestones. Both nations, he noted, faced existential threats during pivotal moments in their histories.
Meanwhile, President Lai outlined ongoing defense reforms, including asymmetric capabilities and expanded societal defense initiatives. He emphasized plans for a special budget establishing an independent drone attack system. Lai specifically thanked Schriver for previously voicing support for Taiwan’s drone program publicly.
Moreover, Lai expressed hope that defense cooperation could shift beyond simple military procurement arrangements. Instead, he envisioned joint research and production efforts benefiting broader regional stability significantly. This shift, he argued, would strengthen the foundation of continued Taiwan support long-term.
Lai also criticized China’s recent actions, including a new transnational repression law and missile testing. These moves, he said, seriously threaten peace across the Indo-Pacific region currently. Beyond security matters, Lai stressed the deep economic relationship connecting Taiwan and the United States.
Notably, the US remains Taiwan’s largest trading partner, while Taiwan ranks fourth for America. Currently, 25 US states along with Guam maintain representative offices within Taiwan already. Soon, Taiwan will open its fourteenth US office, located in Phoenix, Arizona.
Ultimately, Lai emphasized that new bilateral agreements would reduce trade barriers further. Such measures, he added, aim to strengthen high-tech supply chains for both nations. Therefore, sustained Taiwan support appears central to deepening this strategic partnership going forward.
