The Executive Yuan would put forward more effective strategies for strengthening Taiwan-US ties within the next month, seeking to proactively enhance engagement with the US’ incoming presidential administration, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said yesterday.
Cho’s statement follows US president-elect Donald Trump’s campaign victory and discussions between President William Lai’s (賴清德) office and a Cabinet task force.
The new strategies would be aimed at strengthening Taiwan-US cooperation in trade, national defense, joint technology development and people-to-people exchanges.
Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei Times
Cho made the remarks when hosting a visiting delegation from the Taiwanese Association of America at the Executive Yuan yesterday morning.
He was accompanied by Executive Yuan Secretary-General Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫), spokeswoman Michelle Lee (李慧芝) and Overseas Community Affairs Council Deputy Minister Ruan Jhao-syong (阮昭雄).
It is not easy safeguarding Taiwan’s sovereignty and national security during this moment of major political change, Cho said during his welcome speech.
Noting that Taiwan had its own presidential election at the start of the year while the US had its election near the end of the year, Cho said that the US would maintain its status at the forefront of the democratic world and that it still leads the fight against totalitarianism and hegemony.
“Taiwan must take on more responsibility for its self-defense and work with democratic allies to maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region,” Cho added.
Taiwan is capable of shouldering more international responsibilities, has a unique geopolitical location, an irreplaceable role in the global economy and a crucial role in the supply chains of the world’s democracies, the premier said.
The government has a responsibility to its people, and Taiwan has a responsibility to the world, Cho said, as he called for responsible energy policy, a positive investment environment, good work culture, sustainable development and continued improvements to the semiconductor industry.
Taiwan should also continue to prioritize human capital development, he added.
While Trump organizes his new team of officials, Cho said, Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君) is leading the Cabinet’s new task force on key areas of Taiwan-US cooperation, including trade, defense and technology development, to shore up bilateral ties and enhance the partnership.
Taiwanese Association of America president Chen Kuei-ling (陳桂鈴) said she hopes that the government would continue to promote Taiwan’s democratic history and culture, giving the example of Taiwan’s month of commemoration for victims of the White Terror era and the country’s hard-won transition away from authoritarianism.
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