The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Executive Director Ingrid Larson recently emphasized that the United States strongly encourages and appreciates the efforts made by President Tsai Ing-wen’s government to enhance Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities, including increasing defense budget, establishing a Defense Innovation Group, and strengthening the resilience of the entire society.
According to reports from the Central News Agency, Larson spoke at the recently concluded U.S.-Taiwan Defense Industry Conference and introduced Taiwan’s Deputy Minister of National Defense, Xu Yanpu, who delivered a keynote speech. The American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan provided a copy of her speech on the 26th.
Larson stated that in recent years, Beijing has continued to exert pressure and coercion on Taiwan through various government means, including diplomacy, information warfare, military actions, financial measures, intelligence operations, law enforcement, and economic initiatives. For example, the city of Edinburgh in the UK wanted to establish a sister city relationship with Kaohsiung, but halted their efforts after facing pressure from the Chinese Communist Party. These actions have not been helpful for cross-strait peace, resolving differences, or facilitating personnel exchanges.
She mentioned the efforts of President Tsai Ing-wen’s government to enhance Taiwan’s defense capabilities and social resilience, including a 6% increase in the defense budget for the upcoming year to about $20 billion USD. Strengthening Taiwan’s social resilience is considered a top priority, with the establishment of the “Whole of Society Defense Resilience Committee” at the Presidential Office and the appointment of a political commission to integrate resources from government, industry, academia, and civil society.
Larson also expressed that the United States welcomes Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng’s support for major defense reforms, including the establishment of a Defense Innovation Group. She believes that President Tsai’s appointment of Joseph Wu as Minister of Foreign Affairs demonstrates a commitment to promoting U.S.-Taiwan economic relations.
She pointed out that the United States continues to assist Taiwan in maintaining sufficient self-defense capabilities. However, maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait requires more than just traditional defense measures; it also involves enhancing Taiwan’s overall social resilience to ensure its security, connectivity with the global community and economic systems.
“This means strengthening unofficial relations between the U.S. and Taiwan, increasing global recognition of the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, expanding Taiwan’s international space, and enhancing Taiwan’s economic diplomacy.”
She stated that the U.S. is assisting Taiwan in enhancing its overall social resilience, covering aspects such as protecting critical infrastructure, humanitarian aid, disaster response capabilities, cyber defense, food security, economic interdependence, energy resilience, and financial connectivity.
Many defense industry companies from Taiwan and the U.S. participated in the U.S.-Taiwan Defense Industry Conference. Larson emphasized to them the importance of cross-industry participation in strengthening overall social resilience. American companies can provide innovative tools, seek business opportunities in Taiwan, help Taiwan integrate more internationally, avoid isolation, enhance resilience, and reduce vulnerability to coercion.
She mentioned that investments between Taiwan and the U.S. are growing in both directions. With the recent passage of the CHIPS and Science Act in the U.S., advanced semiconductor manufacturers from Taiwan are being welcomed to establish a chip ecosystem in the United States. The U.S. government is also working with Congress to reduce the tax burden on enterprises from both sides.