Taiwan is a “country of global significance” and its security has implications for the world, US Senator Bob Menendez said yesterday in a meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文).
“With Taiwan producing 90 percent of the world’s high-end semiconductor products, it is a country of global significance, consequence and impact, and therefore it should be understood the security of Taiwan has a global impact,” Menendez, who is chairman of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, told Tsai at the Presidential Office in Taipei.
Menendez is part of a delegation led by US Senator Lindsey Graham that arrived in Taiwan on Thursday evening from Australia for an unannounced two-day trip. The stop in Taiwan was part of the delegation’s larger visit to the Indo-Pacific region.
Photo: Wang Yu-Ching, EPA-EFE
Menendez acknowledged that the Chinese government was “very unhappy” with the delegation’s visit, but added that Beijing’s protest “did not dissuade us from coming” and would “not dissuade us in the future in supporting Taiwan.”
Taiwan has been heartened by support from the administration of US President Joe Biden, which has repeatedly talked of its “rock-solid” commitment to the nation.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has also put Taipei on alert for any possible moves by Beijing to use the Ukraine crisis to make a move on Taiwan.
Photo: Wang Yu-Ching, EPA-EFE
Menendez said the delegation’s presence in Taiwan at a time when the world is focused on Russia’s invasion sent “a powerful message” to Taiwanese, adding that “we understand that here in Taiwan, here in this region, this is where the future is.”
Graham echoed Menendez’s views, saying that Taiwan was “indispensable to the digital economy for the world and the United States.”
“We hope to strengthen the [bilateral] ties even more economically,” Graham said.
“We are here to show support for what we love. We love freedom, we love the ability to achieve your individual dreams, we love the ability to pick our own leaders, we love the rule of law and we hate the rule of [the] gun,” Graham said.
“It is often asked what would America do if the Chinese Communist Party became more provocative against Taiwan. I’m convinced we would stand for what we love. We would stand with you,” he said.
Tsai said the invasion of Ukraine has highlighted the urgency of the task for the world’s democracies to unite in solidarity against authoritarian regimes with hegemonic ambitions.
As the staunchest partner of the US in the Indo-Pacific region, Taiwan wishes to play an active role in the US’ new Indo-Pacific strategy, and be part of the efforts to continue safeguarding regional peace and stability, Tsai said.
US Senator Robert Portman said the two countries should negotiate a free-trade agreement to further boost bilateral trade and economic ties.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that after the meeting with Tsai, the delegation also attended a luncheon hosted by Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮).
The senators would meet with Minister of National Defense Chiu Kuo-cheng (邱國正) before departing late yesterday, the foreign ministry said.
In related news, China said it yesterday conducted military drills around Taiwan.
Beijing sent frigates, bombers and fighter planes to the East China Sea and the area around Taiwan proper yesterday, China Central Television cited Chinese People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command spokesman Shi Yi (施毅) as saying.
“This operation is in response to the recent frequent release of wrong signals by the United States on the Taiwan issue,” Shi said, without mentioning the visit of the senators.
“The US’ bad actions and tricks are completely futile and very dangerous. Those who play with fire will burn themselves,” Shi said.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電), the world’s largest foundry service provider, yesterday said that global semiconductor revenue is projected to hit US$1.5 trillion in 2030, after the figure exceeds US$1 trillion this year, as artificial intelligence (AI) demand boosts consumption of token and compute power. “We are still at the beginning of the AI revolution, but we already see a significant impact across the whole semiconductor ecosystem,” TSMC deputy cochief operating officer Kevin Zhang (張曉強) said at the company’s annual technology symposium in Hsinchu City. “It is fair to say that in the past decade, smartphones and other mobile devices were
US-CHINA SUMMIT: MOFA welcomed US reassurance of no change in its Taiwan policy; Trump said he did not comment when Xi talked of opposing independence US President Donald Trump yesterday said he has not made a decision on whether to move forward with a major arms package for Taiwan after hearing concerns about it from Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平). Trump’s comments on Taiwan came as he flew back to Washington after wrapping up critical talks in which both leaders said important progress was made in stabilizing US-China relations even as deep differences persist between the world’s two biggest powers on Iran and Taiwan. “I will make a determination,” Trump said, adding: “I’ll be making decisions. But, you know, I think the last thing we need right
TAIWAN ISSUE: US treasury secretary Scott Bessent said on the first day of meetings that ‘it wouldn’t be a US-China summit without the Taiwan issue coming up’ There were no surprises on the first day of the summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday, as the government reiterated that cross-strait stability is crucial to the Asia-Pacific region, as well as the world. As the two presidents met for a highly anticipated summit yesterday, Chinese state media reported that Xi warned Trump that missteps regarding Taiwan could push their two countries into “conflict.” Trump arrived in China with accolades for his host, calling Xi a “great leader” and “friend,” and extending an invitation to visit the White House
SECURITY: Taipei presses the US for arms supplies, saying the arms sales are not only a reflection of the US security commitment to Taiwan but also serve as a mutual deterrent against regional threats Taiwan is committed to preserving the cross-strait “status quo” and contributing to regional peace and stability, the Presidential Office said yesterday. “It is an undeniable fact that the Republic of China is a sovereign and independent democratic nation,” Presidential Office spokeswoman Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) reiterated, adding that Beijing has no right to claim sovereignty over Taiwan. The statements came after US President Donald Trump warned against Taiwanese independence. Trump wrapped up a state visit to Beijing on Friday, during which Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) had pressed him not to support Taiwan. Taiwan depends heavily on US security backing to deter China from carrying
RSS