Taiwan is to show its steadfast commitment to democracy in the face of authoritarian expansion and its willingness to stand with the US and its democratic allies, President William Lai (賴清德) said today as he met with a delegation departing for the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump next week.
A cross-party delegation led by Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) is to depart for Washington on Saturday to attend the US presidential inauguration on Monday next week.
In a speech today at the Presidential Office, Lai said that the delegation, despite domestic political differences, projects unity to the outside world and will work to the nation’s benefit by deepening Taiwan-US relations.
Photo courtesy of the Presidential Office
Under the goal of promoting peace and prosperity, the delegation stands together as one country, the Republic of China, Taiwan, Lai said.
The delegation will show Taiwan’s commitment to democracy, even under the threat of authoritarianism, and its resolve to stand with the US and the democratic world, Lai said.
Taiwan-US relations continue to grow, as shown by recent bilateral agreements like the double taxation legislation, Lai said.
The delegation represents Taiwan’s voice as a democratic country, Han said, and democracy has become a part of the DNA of Taiwan’s 23 million people, a result of generations of hard work by predecessors, Han added.
Han compared Taiwan’s security to a table resting on four legs: protecting the Republic of China, freedom and democracy, maintaining relations with the US, and cross-strait stability.
The delegation also includes Democratic Progressive Party lawmakers Wang Ting-yu (王定宇), Chen Kuan-ting (陳冠廷) and Jean Kuo (郭昱晴); Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers Ko Chih-en (柯志恩), Lee Yen-hsiu (李彥秀) and Ko Ju-chun (葛如鈞); and Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Chen Gau-Tzu (陳昭姿).
In addition to attending the inauguration, the delegation will meet with US officials, scholars and representatives of the Taiwanese-American community, before returning to Taiwan on Thursday next week.
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