JABAR EKSPRES – Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen pledged the island’s dedication to close cooperation with the United States in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
Tsai made the statement while receiving a US Congressional delegation in Taipei on Wednesday (28/6). The delegation was led by US House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers.
“Taiwan is at the forefront of defending democratic values. We will continue to work hand in hand with the United States in various fields such as the economy and national defense,” Tsai said.
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The commission in charge of security issues is one of the largest US parliamentary delegations to visit Taiwan in recent years, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said.
The visit comes amid efforts by Beijing and Washington to stabilize relations between the two countries that have been strained since then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan last year, plus the incident of Chinese spy balloons flying over US airspace in February.
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Tsai praised the US Congress for continuing to protect the national security of the territory.
She also thanked the US Congress for enacting legislation that helps the island improve its self-defense capabilities and deepen Taipei-Washington security cooperation.
Rogers vowed “unwavering” support for Taiwan. He said the US and Taiwan share a common commitment to the rule of law, democracy, and a free and open Indo-Pacific.
The US does not have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but Washington is the island’s main arms supplier to help maintain its defense capabilities.
Taiwan and mainland China have been ruled separately since the two split in a civil war in 1949. Beijing considers Taiwan a renegade province that should be reunited with the mainland, if necessary by force.
