US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson said during a telephone call with President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday morning that recognition of Taiwan is at the core of the US’ Indo-Pacific strategy, Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) said.
The call marked the first time Lai had spoken directly with Johnson, of the Republican Party, since taking office in May.
Lai also had a call with US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of the Democratic Party and a videoconference with Republican Senator Roger Wicker while in Guam, during a stopover on his way back from visiting the nation’s allies in the Pacific, Kuo said.
Photo: CNA
The US representatives emphasized the bipartisan congressional support to help Taiwan preserve its democracy and freedom, and to continue strengthening relations between the US and Taiwan, Kuo said.
Johnson said that the US Congress continues to pass bills to strengthen Washington’s response to China and its capacity to help Taiwan enhance its defense capabilities.
The speaker also mentioned Congress’ wariness of challenges and threats posed by China, and its recognition of Taiwan as being at the core of the US Indo-Pacific strategy, Kuo said.
Photo: Bloomberg
Lai told Wicker that Taiwan would not cower in the face of increasing threats and that his government was committed to boosting Taiwan’s defense capabilities and economic resilience, Kuo said.
The president expressed hope that both sides would further collaborate on national defense, she said.
Kuo also cited Wicker as saying that he was pleased to see Taiwan’s commitment to self-defense and that he would continue to support Taiwan’s security after taking up the chairmanship of the US Senate Committee on Armed Services next year.
Photo: CNA
Wicker is currently a ranking member of the committee.
Lai arrived in Guam on Wednesday evening after wrapping up a short visit to Taiwan’s Pacific ally Tuvalu.
Yesterday morning, Lai visited the legislature of Guam, making him the first Taiwanese president to visit the lawmaking body of the unincorporated US territory, a Presidential Office source said.
“Today, we gather to honor the enduring relationship between Guam and Taiwan built on decades of partnership and shared values,” Guamanian Legislative Speaker Therese M Terlaje said before presenting a copy of a resolution to Lai.
The resolution, passed by the legislature, welcomes “President Lai Ching-te [William]” and extends “our appreciation for Taiwan’s significant contributions to Guam’s economy and community.”
The “deep cultural, educational, health and economic connections ... have greatly benefited our islands,” Terlaje added.
Lai compared Taiwan and Guam to “family members,” citing the deep cultural connections between the two sides and their shared values of democracy, freedom and human rights.
“Moving forward, let us continue to work together to deepen cooperation between Taiwan and Guam,” jointly becoming a crucial force in defending freedom and democracy in the Indo-Pacific region, he said.
Lai, accompanied by Presidential Office and Cabinet officials, headed to Palau — the final destination of his South Pacific tour that has included stops in the US state of Hawaii and the Marshall Islands — yesterday afternoon.
He is to conclude his first overseas trip as president today.
While stopping over in Hawaii on Sunday, the president also had a 20-minute phone call with former US House speaker Nancy Pelosi, who visited Taiwan in 2022 when she was still speaker.
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