Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭 美琴) yesterday expressed gratitude to the United States for its support of Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities and calls for cross-strait peace during a reception organized by the US de facto embassy in Taiwan to mark July 4 Independence Day.
In her address during the event organized by the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) to celebrate the 248th anniversary of Independence Day, Hsiao sent congratulations to America for founding a nation built on principles of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
She said following decades of democratization, including the latest presidential and legislative elections this January, democracy and freedom have become “essential elements of Taiwanese identity and the cornerstone of Taiwan-U.S. relations.”
Photo: Ben Blanchard, Reuters
As Taiwan’s former top envoy to Washington from 2020 to 2023, Hsiao said she has had “a front-row seat in observing and working to deepen, broaden and strengthen the Taiwan-US partnership.”
Hsiao left the US post and returned to Taiwan last year to run for vice president along with presidential candidate William Lai (賴清德) in the Jan. 13 presidential election. The pair were successful.
In her speech, Hsiao also referenced a number of the achievements made by Taipei and Washington in recent years, including the signing of the first agreement under the Taiwan-US Initiative on 21st-Century Trade in June 2023.
The deal has brought Taiwanese and American businesses and people closer together, Hsiao said, adding Taiwan’s government hopes both sides can move forward and resolve issues such as double taxation.
On the international front, Taiwan is grateful to the US for enabling it to share its expertise and experiences in dealing with complex global challenges on the world stage, she said.
“This does demonstrate that a very robust Taiwan-US relationship is also good for the world. And we certainly intend to continue to be that force for good in the world as a solid partner of the United States,” she said.
Taipei also appreciates American support for Taiwan’s defense capacities in the face of the growing military threat from China, she said.
Given AIT Director Sandra Oudkirk’s three-year tenure is nearing its end, Hsiao thanked the envoy for her dedication to enhancing Taiwan-US relations.
Oudkirk said the AIT remains committed to working with Taiwan in advancing the shared vision of a free, open, resilient, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.
“We thank Taiwan for serving as a partner to the United States and promoting democratic values around the world,” she said.
UPGRADE: The Kang Ding-class frigate is replacing its Chaparall missiles with Tien Chien II and Hua Yang VLS, which would provide it with long-range, 360° air defense Taiwan plans to produce 1,200 to 1,376 Hai Chien II missiles (海劍二, Sea Sword II) — also known as TC-2N — to serve as the standard air defense system of the navy’s surface combatant fleet, a source said yesterday. Last week, the Hai Chien II, the naval version of the Tien Kung II missile (天劍二, Sky Sword II), completed a live-fire test in waters off the National Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology’s Jiupeng facility (九鵬) in Pingtung County’s Manjhou Township (滿州). The MIM72 Chaparral and other dated air defense missiles that currently arm Taiwanese ships have inadequate range to combat Chinese
REASONS FOR TRAVEL: An assistant professor said that proposed amendments to penalize drivers if they used drugs overseas would not deter people from traveling People who operate a motor vehicle under the influence of marijuana would have their driver’s license revoked, even if they used the substance while overseas, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday, citing proposed amendments to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通管理處罰條例). The amendments would also authorize the government to revoke the licenses of people determined to have used Category 1 or Category 2 narcotics, even if they were not operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs, as well as ban them from taking the license test for three years, the ministry said. People aged 18 or
GLOBALGIVING: ‘ Caving to external pressure is not acceptable for an organization that has cultivated justice reform and human rights for 30 years,’ one NGO said A slew of non-government organizations (NGOs) have withdrawn from the GlobalGiving fundraising platform after it announced it would use “Chinese Taipei” instead of “Taiwan” from next month. The Taiwan Good Rice Association wrote on Facebook on Friday that it was informed on April 28 via a teleconference call of the change, which was made because the platform wanted to operate in China. Taiwan Good Rice is to terminate all cooperative relationships with GlobalGiving in response to the platform’s “unilateral and non-negotiable” decision to remove references to Taiwan, the NGO said. “Taiwan is in the official name of Taiwan Good Rice Association and the
HEAVY WEATHER: Typhoon Jangmi is due to crash straight into the Ryukyus as airlines look to shift flights to larger aircraft or cancel flights to Okinawa entirely Taiwan’s international air carriers announced flight adjustments over the weekend as Typhoon Jangmi is forecast to hit the Ryukyu Islands today and tomorrow. The Central Weather Administration (CWA) upgraded Jangmi from a tropical storm to a typhoon at 8am yesterday, with the eye located 580km south of Naha city. It was moving north at 19kph. Today, China Airlines’ CI-120, CI-121, CI-122 and CI-123 flights between Taoyuan and Naha, Okinawa, have been canceled as well as CI-132 and CI-133 between Kaohsiung and Naha. EVA Air’s BR-112, BR-113, BR-186 and BR-185 flights between Taoyuan and Naha are also canceled. Low-cost carrier Tigerair Taiwan canceled IT-230,
RSS