Taiwan’s Vice President, Lai Ching-te, attended the “United States Independence Day Reception” on the evening of July 2, emphasizing the strong partnership between Taiwan and the United States as beneficial to the world and continuing to be a force for good globally. She expressed gratitude towards the United States, as well as other partners and allies, for emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
In a statement released by the Office of the President of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Lai Ching-te highlighted the significance of the strong Taiwan-US partnership in contributing positively to global issues through platforms such as the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF). She acknowledged that Taiwan’s expertise and experiences in addressing complex, global challenges underscore the partnership’s beneficial effects on the world and its role as a force for good. Democracy and freedom have become integral elements of Taiwan’s identity and the cornerstone of Taiwan-US relations.
In her address in English, Lai Ching-te expressed great honor in representing the government and people of Taiwan in extending blessings to the American people and celebrating the United States Independence Day and the robust Taiwan-US partnership. She reflected on the founding principles of the United States, emphasizing the values of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness that have inspired many societies to aspire to freedom and democracy.
Lai Ching-te remarked on Taiwan’s journey towards democracy, noting the perseverance of the Taiwanese people in overcoming challenges to establish a democratic environment that empowers individuals to determine their way of life. The successful completion of the presidential and legislative elections this year demonstrated Taiwan’s democratic vitality and resilience. She reiterated that democracy and freedom are crucial elements of Taiwan’s identity and the foundation of its relationship with the United States.
Acknowledging her participation in the Independence Day celebration organized by the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) in 2020, held during a baseball event in her hometown of Tainan, Lai Ching-te expressed gratitude for the efforts devoted to deepening, expanding, and strengthening the Taiwan-US partnership over the past four years. She sincerely thanked Sandra Oudkirk, Director of the AIT Taipei Office, for her dedication to advancing a closer Taiwan-US relationship.
In reviewing developments, Lai Ching-te highlighted the significant progress in trade relations between Taiwan and the United States, including the signing of the inaugural Taiwan-US Trade and Investment Framework Agreement. She emphasized ongoing negotiations for the second phase of the agreement to further enhance economic ties and address issues like double taxation, aiming to strengthen the relationship between both countries. She expressed pride in achieving fruitful outcomes through collaboration and cooperation.
Lai Ching-te expressed gratitude to the United States for collaborating with Taiwan, Japan, Australia, and other countries through various platforms such as the Global Cooperation and Training Framework to share expertise and experiences in addressing complex global challenges in areas like climate, environment, cybersecurity, media literacy, good governance, women’s empowerment, and entrepreneurship. These efforts underscore the positive impact of the strong Taiwan-US partnership on the world as a force for good.
She also acknowledged the United States for assisting Taiwan in enhancing its self-defense capabilities amid military threats under the framework of the Taiwan Relations Act, along with other partners and allies advocating for the maintenance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
This year marks the 45th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act legislative enactment, with Lai Ching-te appreciative of bipartisan long-term support from the United States, strengthening the Taiwan-US relationship. Emphasizing the importance of deepening cooperation on all fronts to uphold peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the region, she quoted President Tsai Ing-wen’s “Four Pillars of Taiwan’s Peace Initiative”, underscoring its importance for Taiwan and the world.
In conclusion, Lai Ching-te reiterated her gratitude to Director Sandra Oudkirk and the American Institute in Taiwan for their efforts in promoting Taiwan-US relations. Despite Director Oudkirk’s impending tenure conclusion, Lai Ching-te expressed confidence in her continued support for Taiwan and the Taiwan-US relationship, extending best wishes for her future endeavors. The commitment to building a more robust Taiwan-US partnership will persist, aiming to strengthen cooperation and mutual support in the future.
The event was attended by officials including Sandra Oudkirk, Director of AIT Taipei Office, Secretary-General of the National Security Council Wu Zhaoxie, President of the Legislative Yuan Han Kuo-yu, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu.