Taipei: President Lai Ching-te met with former United States Vice President Mike Pence in Taipei on Friday, expressing aspirations for stronger ties with the incoming U.S. administration concerning trade and other sectors.
According to Focus Taiwan, a press release issued by the Presidential Office after the meeting detailed President Lai's call for deeper collaborations among democratic nations amidst China's sustained military threats against Taiwan and challenges posed by authoritarian regimes globally. The president emphasized the importance of enhanced economic exchanges between Taiwan and the U.S. during Donald Trump's upcoming second term as president, which is set to commence next week, and stressed the need for stronger collaboration with Congress.
During the meeting, Lai acknowledged Pence's unwavering support for Taiwan and his significant role in advancing Taiwan-U.S. relations during Trump's first term from 2017 to 2021. Taiwan-U.S. relations "reached unprecedented heights" under the Trump-Pence administration due to its policy of "normalizing" arms sales to Taiwan and measures to strengthen bilateral economic and trade ties, Lai noted.
The president also expressed gratitude to Pence for supporting Taiwan's participation in global affairs, calling him "a steadfast friend of Taiwan" on the international stage, as stated in the press release.
As part of his Asia-Pacific tour, Pence, who was visiting Taiwan, reiterated his commitment to advocating for strong U.S.-Taiwan ties rooted in shared values and mutual interests. He highlighted the U.S. commitment to maintaining the status quo as China attempts to alter it, expressing concern over China's provocative actions in the Taiwan Strait and the broader Indo-Pacific region.
In addition to the meeting with Lai, Pence delivered a keynote speech at a forum in Taipei and attended a banquet hosted by Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim on Friday. Pence, who established the policy advocacy group Advancing American Freedom after leaving office, was invited to Taiwan by private organizations, as noted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs earlier on Friday.
