On November 27, 2024, United States Senator Jeff Merkley, co-chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, met with President of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen. President Tsai expressed her hope that with the support of the U.S. Congress, the bill to avoid double taxation between Taiwan and the U.S. could be legislated this year. Merkley reiterated that both the Senate and the House of Representatives in the United States would unite across party lines to support Taiwan.
President Tsai welcomed Senator Merkley and his team during their visit to Taiwan on the 26th, emphasizing the importance of their visit and showing concrete support for Taiwan. She thanked Senator Merkley for his longstanding advocacy for Taiwan in the U.S. Congress, proposing various initiatives to strengthen Taiwan-U.S. relations and expand Taiwan’s international presence.
Referring to the Taiwan Relations Act passed by the U.S. Congress 45 years ago, President Tsai stated that it has been a crucial foundation for promoting security cooperation and developing a comprehensive partnership between Taiwan and the U.S. Merkley’s joint efforts with Senator Marco Rubio in proposing the Taiwan Strengthening Act and the Resolution commemorating the 45th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act demonstrate his strong support for Taiwan.
President Tsai emphasized that while Taiwan has undergone significant changes in the past 24 years, the growing threat from China remains constant. Taiwan will stand firm to maintain peace and stability in the region, uphold its democratic constitutional system, and assert its sovereignty while advocating for the people of Taiwan to determine their future.
President Tsai highlighted Taiwan’s commitment to enhancing its defense capabilities, with a notable increase in defense budget over the past eight years under her administration. Taiwan has also diversified its economic connections, reducing its economic reliance on China and strengthening partnerships within the global democratic supply chain.
In addition to security cooperation, President Tsai expressed hopes for Taiwan and the U.S. to collaborate in building a reliable supply chain to promote global prosperity. Efforts such as the Taiwan-U.S. 21st Century Trade Initiative have deepened economic partnerships, with expectations of achieving more fruitful outcomes through continued negotiations.
President Tsai reiterated the importance of U.S. congressional support to expedite the legislation to avoid double taxation between Taiwan and the U.S. this year, aiming to enhance bilateral investment, industrial cooperation, and economic resilience.
In concluding her remarks, President Tsai thanked Senator Merkley and his delegation for their unwavering support for Taiwan and expressed hope for successful outcomes from their visit, leaving a lasting impression on Taiwan.
During his speech, Senator Jeff Merkley emphasized the critical importance of the Taiwan-U.S. connection. Despite facing serious issues, he first congratulated Taiwan on its recent victory in the World Baseball Classic, acknowledging the country’s achievements and resilience.
Recalling his previous visit to Taiwan in 2000 during the second presidential election, Senator Merkley praised Taiwan’s vibrant democracy and emphasized the importance of nurturing and sustaining democratic values. He commended President Tsai for her commitment to free speech, assembly, and religious liberties.
Senator Merkley mentioned the strong ties between Oregon, his home state, and Taiwan, with several cities in Oregon having sister city relationships with Taiwanese counterparts, fostering mutual investment opportunities and commercial connections.
Reflecting on his earlier visit to Taiwan as a state legislator in 2000, Senator Merkley became a lifelong supporter of Taiwan after witnessing the country’s robust democracy. As a U.S. Senator, he has actively promoted Taiwan-U.S. relations, collaborating with Senator Rubio across party lines to strengthen ties and advance resolutions reaffirming the importance of the relationship.
Senator Merkley pledged to continue strengthening Taiwan relations in various fields such as military security, global connectivity, and resilience in facing challenges like climate change and natural disasters. The delegation’s visit during a transition of power in the U.S. government underscored the bipartisan support for Taiwan in both chambers of Congress, signaling ongoing efforts to enhance Taiwan-U.S. partnership.