Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator and President of the Taiwan-US Congressional Friendship Association, Wang Ting-yu, recently embarked on a visit to the United States. He arrived in Los Angeles as his first stop to engage with the Taiwanese community in Southern California and meet with local officials. He will then proceed to Washington D.C. to initiate a series of diplomatic activities within the Congress.
During a welcoming dinner hosted by the Taiwanese community in the western United States on July 21st (Tuesday), Wang Ting-yu emphasized that the Taiwan-US relationship is built on shared values of democracy and freedom, unaffected by changes in political parties in the United States. He stressed the importance of strengthening Taiwan’s defense autonomy and deepening collaboration in the Taiwan-US military supply chain to enhance Taiwan’s overall defense resilience.
Wang Ting-yu mentioned that the visit to the U.S. was led by the DPP Legislative Yuan caucus convener, Tsai Chi-chang, representing the ruling party in exchanges with the American counterparts. Wang Ting-yu, in his capacity as the President of the Taiwan-US Congressional Friendship Association, arranged meetings with U.S. Congress members and relevant officials, focusing on important issues such as Taiwan-US partnership, Indo-Pacific regional security, and bilateral cooperation.
He highlighted that the foundation of Taiwan-US cooperation stems from shared values and the common goal of maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Regardless of which party is in power in the U.S., the relationship between the two sides has continued to deepen in recent years, driving economic and trade cooperation and becoming a significant force in regional peace maintenance.
Regarding defense policy, Wang Ting-yu underscored the inseparable link between defense budget and Taiwan-US military cooperation. In areas such as air defense system construction, drone technology, and anti-drone industry development, the two sides have gradually established a closer military supply chain through technology transfer, patent collaboration, and battlefield data updates.
He noted that during peacetime, Taiwan can serve as an important partner in the global military supply chain for the United States, enhancing industrial competitiveness. In the face of potential military threats from the Chinese Communist Party, Taiwan also possesses the capability to independently supply defense equipment, reducing external reliance and further bolstering overall defense resilience.
According to Wang Ting-yu, Taiwan’s current defense expenditure has exceeded 3% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) based on NATO’s calculation method. The government is planning to gradually increase this figure to 5% by 2029. While he views the goal as feasible, its successful implementation depends on the domestic political atmosphere and the progress of budget reviews in the Legislative Yuan.
Discussing the focus of legislative agenda in the latter half of the year, Wang Ting-yu expressed concern over the significant delay in the review of the overall budget. The scrutiny of the annual budget that should have been completed by the end of last year is still pending, leading to a situation where more than half of the fiscal year has passed without the implementation of many policy plans.
He worriedly mentioned that the Legislative Yuan will commence the review of the next year’s budget in the latter half of the year, potentially resulting in a scenario where the previous year’s budget has not been finalized, while the budget for the following year has been submitted to the legislature, setting a historical precedent. He urged political parties across the spectrum to prioritize national interests over party competition, swiftly complete the budget review, and ensure that national governance and defense construction are not compromised.
Regarding Taiwan’s international participation, Wang Ting-yu emphasized that Taiwan, with a population of 23 million, is an important democratic country in Asia. Taiwan is not seeking special treatment but rather the right to fair participation in the international community. He called on international cooperation platforms such as the World Health Organization (WHO), International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and climate change initiatives to include Taiwan continuously. Exclusion of Taiwan not only impacts global epidemic control, cross-border crime prevention, and aviation security but also weakens global governance effectiveness.
Wang Ting-yu believed that the world is gradually recognizing Taiwan’s crucial role in artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor supply chains. He urged the international community to understand that excluding Taiwan from participating in international mechanisms is not only a loss for Taiwan but also a loss for the global common interests.
In conclusion, Wang Ting-yu expressed special gratitude to overseas compatriots for their long-standing support for Taiwan. He stated that California is like an “Overseas Taiwan,” where the overseas Taiwanese community has been actively involved in advocating for Taiwan’s democratic development, allowing those striving in Taiwan to feel the support from around the world. “Our homeland is always with all of us.”
Taiwan Presidential Office national policy advisor Tian Tih-hung was delighted by the visit of the Legislative Yuan caucus to Los Angeles, bringing the latest developments from Taiwan and providing an opportunity for the Taiwanese community in the western United States to directly understand the domestic situation. The welcoming banquet saw the participation of nearly 500 compatriots from San Diego, Phoenix, and even Utah.
Tian Tih-hung noted that despite many compatriots residing abroad for decades, they are deeply attached to Taiwan and highly concerned about Taiwan’s sustainable economic development, industrial growth, and the preservation of core values such as democracy and freedom. Overseas Taiwanese Americans cherish the hard-won democracy in Taiwan and fervently hope that these core values can be passed down through generations and continued to be upheld.
Addressing the recent hot-button issues of Taiwan’s international status and national security, Tian Tih-hung acknowledged the shared worries and concerns among compatriots, who are even more attentive to Taiwan’s future development than people within the country. He hoped to gain the latest information about Taiwan from the visiting legislators and through them, convey the unwavering support of Taiwanese Americans for Taiwan, ensuring that more Taiwanese people understand the consistent care and backing of overseas compatriots.