On May 2nd, President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Lai Ching-te met with a delegation from the Atlantic Council of the United States, expressing his hope for Taiwan and the U.S. to share economic and security interests for mutual benefit. Vice President of the Atlantic Council, Matthew Kroenig, assured President Lai and the people of Taiwan that the United States is a reliable partner to Taiwan. This meeting marks an important moment in further deepening the partnership between Taiwan and the U.S.
President Lai welcomed the Republican strategists delegation from the Atlantic Council and expressed gratitude for their visit, especially noting Vice President Kroenig’s visit to Taiwan last June and his continued support for Taiwan in international publications. President Lai emphasized Taiwan’s strategic importance in the first island chain in the face of military threats from the People’s Republic of China and gray zone intrusions, affirming Taiwan’s firm determination in self-defense. Taiwan is accelerating the enhancement of its overall defense capabilities, with the government prioritizing a special budget to increase defense spending from approximately 2.5% to over 3% of GDP, demonstrating its commitment to safeguarding national security and regional peace and stability.
President Lai highlighted Taiwan’s recent purchase of 66 new F-16V fighter jets during President Trump’s tenure, emphasizing the importance of Taiwan’s strategy of “peace through strength.” Taiwan looks forward to continuing to purchase defense equipment from the U.S. to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and hopes to transition from simply military sales to a partnership involving joint research and manufacturing, further deepening cooperation between the two countries. Taiwan is committed to fair, free, and mutually beneficial trade relationships, outlining plans to deepen economic ties with the U.S. by reducing tariffs and increasing procurement of American energy, agricultural products, and other industrial goods to address trade imbalances.
President Lai expressed Taiwan’s willingness to participate in the U.S.’s efforts in reindustrialization and becoming a global hub for artificial intelligence manufacturing. He stressed Taiwan’s role not only as a bastion of democracy and freedom but also an indispensable node in the global supply chain. President Lai believes that Taiwan and the U.S. can leverage their shared economic and security interests to achieve greater outcomes together, serving as each other’s strongest support.
President Lai thanked Vice President Kroenig and the delegation for their visit, expressing hope for valuable exchanges and a successful and fruitful trip. Vice President Kroenig expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to lead the Atlantic Council delegation to Taiwan, consisting of senior U.S. officials responsible for Taiwan affairs and rising stars visiting Taiwan for the first time.
At a critical juncture marked by ongoing conflicts in Europe, rising aggression by the Chinese Communist Party in the Indo-Pacific region, and increasing collaborations among authoritarian regimes like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, Vice President Kroenig stressed the importance of deterring these regimes and upholding global peace, prosperity, and freedom with the support of allies and partners like Taiwan. Kroenig assured President Lai and the people of Taiwan that the U.S. is a dependable partner, especially under the prioritized policy of countering Chinese aggression by the Trump administration, which involves a record-high defense budget allocation exceeding one trillion dollars to support this policy.
Highlighting the Trump administration’s “America First” doctrine, Kroenig emphasized that the U.S. would support countries that are committed to self-help in strengthening their national security, commending Taiwan and President Lai’s efforts in enhancing national security through increased defense budgets, societal resilience, and the use of advanced technologies like unmanned systems in defense self-sufficiency. Facing formidable and ruthless neighbors, Kroenig stressed the vital role of human capital, stating that it is the determination of the Taiwanese people to resist coercion and defend their homeland that will ultimately shape Taiwan’s future and determine its destiny, with the U.S. offering steadfast support.
As Taiwan and the U.S. collaborate to address various challenges together, the Atlantic Council aims to provide ongoing support behind the scenes. Established in 1961 to support transatlantic alliances, the Atlantic Council has evolved into a global think tank with a focus on fostering close cooperation with allies in the Indo-Pacific region, including Taiwan. As the visit concluded, Kroenig reiterated his appreciation for President Lai’s reception and Taiwan’s efforts in defending the free world. The delegation also included Heino Klinck, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia Affairs, and Marvin Park, former head of Taiwan affairs at the National Security Council who were accompanied by Foreign Minister Joseph Wu and present at the meeting were Secretary-General of the National Security Council David Tawei Lee.