Wed, Dec 13, 2023 page3

• Alexander Yui pledges to deepen Taiwan-US ties

  CHINESE THREAT: The new representative to the US vowed to cooperate with Washington to prevent foreign actors from interfering in the elections next month

  • By Liu Tzu-hsuan / Staff reporter
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  Representative to the US Alexander Yui (俞大㵢) on Monday pledged to continue deepening ties between Taiwan and the US after arriving in Washington to take up his new post.

  Yui’s appointment came after his predecessor, Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴), resigned to join Vice President William Lai (賴清德) as his running mate on the Democratic Progressive Party’s presidential ticket.

  American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Managing Director Ingrid Larson welcomed Yui at the airport after he arrived from Brussels, where he was previously the nation’s representative to the EU and Belgium.

  

  Representative to the US Alexander Yui, fourth right, is welcomed by American Institute in Taiwan Managing Director Ingrid Larson, fifth right, and others in Washington on Monday.

  Photo: CNA

  Yui told reporters at the airport that the Taiwan-US relationship “has global ramifications and has thrived in recent years as a result of relentless efforts between the two sides.”

  The focus of the new post is to be on security, trade and economic cooperation, as well as Taiwan’s international space, Yui said.

  He would work with the US to ensure peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, strengthen Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities, advance the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade, eliminate double taxation and expand Taiwan’s international space, he said.

  He also vowed to cooperate with the US to prevent foreign actors from interfering in Taiwan’s presidential and legislative elections next month, especially as China continues to threaten Taiwan with military and economic coercion and cognitive warfare.

  Yui said he would continue bolstering ties with the US based on the “solid foundation” set by his predecessors.

  Yui later the same day received a briefing by deputy representatives to the US Robin Cheng (鄭榮俊) and Johnson Chiang (姜森) on the latest developments in the Taiwan-US relationship and “hit the ground running,” the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US said.

  AIT Chair Laura Rosenberger wrote on X yesterday that “Representative Yui is a friend we know well, and with his significant experience, we’re confident our partnership will continue to grow and strengthen!”

  In other news, US Virgin Islands Governor Albert Bryan Jr has announced that Dec. 8 has been declared “Taiwan Day,” while voicing support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations.

  Bryan made the announcement at the US Virgin Islands Winter Summit on Friday last week, where Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Miami Director-General Chou Chi-yu (周啟宇) was invited to deliver remarks.

  Bryan also praised Taiwan’s performance in democracy and technology, and its economy, adding that he was deeply impressed by its advanced science and technology when he visited the nation in March.

  Bryan said that he has instructed US Virgin Islands Special Economic Envoy to Taiwan Anthony Weeks to plan the establishment of an office in Taiwan to enhance economic and trade cooperation between Taiwan and the US Virgin Islands.

  Additional reporting by CNA
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