The American Institute in Taiwan’s new director in Taipei, Raymond Greene, met with President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Lai Ching-te on the 10th of July. Greene expressed his anticipation for strengthening cooperation in various fields with the new government and enhancing the longstanding Taiwan-US relationship. He expressed confidence in elevating the bilateral relationship to a new height. President Lai Ching-te stated that he believes the Taiwan-US relationship will continue to improve.
President Lai Ching-te emphasized during his meeting with Greene this morning that Taiwan and the United States are solid partners, actively maintaining regional peace and stability and looking forward to further deepening economic and trade relations between the two countries. He believes that with Greene’s rich experience and strong support for Taiwan, Taiwan and the United States will deepen their partnership in various fields, fostering a positive relationship.
Director Greene congratulated President Lai on his inauguration and mentioned the honor he felt in strengthening the Taiwan-US relationship during this important juncture.
Regarding President Lai’s electoral victory, Greene expressed no surprise. Twenty years ago, President Lai was nominated as part of the “International Leadership Visitors Program” while serving as a legislator, a program aimed at investing in future global leaders. As a political officer at AIT back then, Greene informed the State Department that “this legislator might very well be Taiwan’s future president.” He expressed happiness at being able to interact and engage with President Lai during his stints as a legislator, mayor, premier, and vice president in locations like Taipei, Tainan, and Washington, D.C.
Greene reiterated the United States’ commitment to supporting Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities as the Taiwan-US partnership is crucial for the long-term peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region, aligning with guiding policies such as the Taiwan Relations Act, the Three Joint Communiqués, and the Six Assurances. He looks forward to bolstering cooperation with the new government in areas like economics, culture, personnel exchanges, and technology to further solidify the robust Taiwan-US relationship and enhance global supply chain resilience.
Greene stressed that despite facing increasingly complex challenges, the enduring partnership between Taiwan and the United States continues to strengthen. He expressed confidence that with the support of the global democratic community, they can safeguard Taiwan’s democracy, promote prosperity for both sides, and elevate the bilateral relationship to new heights.
President Lai Ching-te warmly welcomed AIT Director Greene’s return to Taiwan. He described Greene as an old friend of Taiwan who had previously served twice at AIT Taipei, facilitating closer cooperation and exchange between Taiwan and the United States during his tenure as Deputy Director. According to President Lai, Greene’s grasp of Taiwan-US affairs and regional situations is not only profound but also highly professional. He expressed his belief that Greene’s return signifies a positive trajectory for Taiwan-US relations at their best.
President Lai noted the 45th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act this year and reiterated his gratitude for the U.S. government’s continued commitments to Taiwan, including the Biden administration’s announcement of arms sales to Taiwan as a demonstration of its support for Taiwan’s security.
President Lai emphasized Taiwan and the United States’ partnership in safeguarding regional peace and stability in the face of challenges from China seeking to alter the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. As a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan will collaborate closely with the United States and like-minded countries to maintain the current situation and contribute to regional prosperity.
President Lai also expressed his expectation for deepening economic and trade relations between Taiwan and the United States, advancing the second stage of the “Taiwan-US Trade and Investment Framework Agreement” negotiations, and promptly addressing the issue of double taxation between the two countries. Furthermore, amidst the global wave of artificial intelligence (AI), Taiwan aims to become an “AI Island,” believing that Taiwan and the United States can enhance cooperation and exchanges in the field of AI and innovation with Greene’s extensive experience and strong support for Taiwan.
President Lai recalled how three years ago, he and Greene, along with several resident representatives in Taiwan, visited the Alisan Tefuye Ancient Trail to experience indigenous culture firsthand. Each resident representative serves as a window for their respective countries to understand Taiwan and as a bridge connecting Taiwan to the world. President Lai extended his welcome to Greene’s return to Taiwan and looked forward to jointly endeavoring for the further improvement of the Taiwan-US relationship.