Visiting former US officials yesterday reaffirmed the US’ rock-solid commitment to Taiwan, saying that the US is to keep working with Taiwan for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
Former US national security adviser Stephen Hadley made the remarks during a meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) at the Presidential Office in Taipei.
Hadley and former US deputy secretary of state James Steinberg arrived in Taiwan on Sunday for a post-election visit in a private capacity, the American Institute in Taiwan said.
Photo: CNA
Hadley conveyed congratulations to Tsai and Taiwanese on the smooth completion of the nation’s presidential and legislative elections on Saturday.
Taiwan’s democracy has set a shining example for the world and is a democratic success story based on transparency, rule of law, respect for human rights and freedom, he said.
The US’ commitment to Taiwan is rock-solid, principled and bipartisan, he said, adding that “the US would stand with its friend.”
Photo: Democratic Progressive Party via AP
Hadley said that he looked forward to seeing Taiwan and the US continue to deepen their relations to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait under the new government.
Steinberg said that Tsai’s leadership in the past eight years has been admirable, as it has benefited Taiwanese, significantly advanced the partnership between Taiwan and the US, and contributed to regional peace and stability.
The US’ Taiwan policy has remained consistent for a long time, supporting the informal but friendly relations between the two sides, he said.
The US maintains that cross-strait issues should be resolved through peaceful means and that any unilateral change to the “status quo” should be avoided, he said, adding that the approach is in the interest of all regional parties.
Tsai thanked the delegation for demonstrating the US’ support for Taiwan’s democracy through their visit, adding that she hoped to see Taiwan-US relations continue to deepen and become an important driving force for regional and global prosperity and development.
The delegation later yesterday met with president-elect William Lai (賴清德) and vice president-elect Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) at Democratic Progressive Party headquarters in Taipei.
Lai said that “democracy and freedom are the most valuable assets of the Taiwanese people,” as well as core values shared by Taiwan and the US, and the foundation of the stable relations between the two sides.
Sending congratulatory messages to him and Hsiao right after the elections on Saturday and a delegation of senior US representatives to Taiwan is “hugely meaningful” to the nation, as it shows firm support for Taiwan’s democracy and demonstrates close Taiwan-US ties, Lai said.
He vowed to lead Taiwan on the foundations laid by Tsai, safeguarding peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
Leading up to the inauguration ceremony in May, the government would continue to provide a solid foundation for the new government to take over seamlessly, he said.
Meanwhile, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi yesterday said that Taiwan is an important friend of Japan and vowed to deepen Japan-Taiwan ties.
“Taiwan is an extremely important partner and dear friend of our country, with whom we share fundamental values and have close economic ties and people-to-people exchanges,” Hayashi told a news conference.
Japan is to maintain its “working relationship on a non-governmental basis” with Taiwan while striving to further deepen cooperation and exchanges between the two sides, he said.
The Japanese government has long maintained that cross-strait disputes should be resolved through dialogue and peaceful means, and calls for regional peace and stability, he added.
Taiwan is projected to lose a working-age population of about 6.67 million people in two waves of retirement in the coming years, as the nation confronts accelerating demographic decline and a shortage of younger workers to take their place, the Ministry of the Interior said. Taiwan experienced its largest baby boom between 1958 and 1966, when the population grew by 3.78 million, followed by a second surge of 2.89 million between 1976 and 1982, ministry data showed. In 2023, the first of those baby boom generations — those born in the late 1950s and early 1960s — began to enter retirement, triggering
ECONOMIC BOOST: Should the more than 23 million people eligible for the NT$10,000 handouts spend them the same way as in 2023, GDP could rise 0.5 percent, an official said Universal cash handouts of NT$10,000 (US$330) are to be disbursed late next month at the earliest — including to permanent residents and foreign residents married to Taiwanese — pending legislative approval, the Ministry of Finance said yesterday. The Executive Yuan yesterday approved the Special Act for Strengthening Economic, Social and National Security Resilience in Response to International Circumstances (因應國際情勢強化經濟社會及民生國安韌性特別條例). The NT$550 billion special budget includes NT$236 billion for the cash handouts, plus an additional NT$20 billion set aside as reserve funds, expected to be used to support industries. Handouts might begin one month after the bill is promulgated and would be completed within
The National Development Council (NDC) yesterday unveiled details of new regulations that ease restrictions on foreigners working or living in Taiwan, as part of a bid to attract skilled workers from abroad. The regulations, which could go into effect in the first quarter of next year, stem from amendments to the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals (外國專業人才延攬及僱用法) passed by lawmakers on Aug. 29. Students categorized as “overseas compatriots” would be allowed to stay and work in Taiwan in the two years after their graduation without obtaining additional permits, doing away with the evaluation process that is currently required,
IMPORTANT BACKER: China seeks to expel US influence from the Indo-Pacific region and supplant Washington as the global leader, MAC Minister Chiu Chui-cheng said China is preparing for war to seize Taiwan, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said in Washington on Friday, warning that Taiwan’s fall would trigger a regional “domino effect” endangering US security. In a speech titled “Maintaining the Peaceful and Stable Status Quo Across the Taiwan Strait is in Line with the Shared Interests of Taiwan and the United States,” Chiu said Taiwan’s strategic importance is “closely tied” to US interests. Geopolitically, Taiwan sits in a “core position” in the first island chain — an arc stretching from Japan, through Taiwan and the Philippines, to Borneo, which is shared by
RSS