On July 7, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth led a delegation to visit Taiwan, meeting with President Lai Ching-te and holding talks with senior government officials. The discussions covered Taiwan-U.S. relations, regional security, economic and technological cooperation, as well as developments in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region, according to a press release by the American Institute in Taiwan.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that, as the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of its founding, Duckworth’s visit fully demonstrates her firm support for Taiwan and reflects the continued bipartisan commitment in the U.S. Congress to deepen the Taiwan-U.S. partnership.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Duckworth and her delegation are visiting Taiwan from July 6 to 8. During the visit, in addition to meeting with President Lai, the delegation will also hold talks with officials from Taiwan’s executive branch. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung expressed sincere welcome for Duckworth’s return visit and thanked her for leading the delegation to Taiwan at an important moment, demonstrating support for Taiwan’s democracy and security.
In an interview, Duckworth said that U.S. support for Taiwan should not change because of changes in the political party controlling the White House. Regardless of which party is in power, she said, the U.S. Congress will continue to support Taiwan through bipartisan efforts and ensure that the bilateral partnership remains strong, Taiwan’s Central News Agency reported.
Duckworth emphasized that Taiwan is an important partner in the Indo-Pacific region. Maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait serves U.S. national interests and also contributes to regional security and prosperity.
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She said that during this visit to Taiwan, she will meet with President Lai Ching-te, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim, Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu, as well as heads of the defense, economic, and other relevant government agencies.
The meetings will include in-depth discussions on issues such as regional security, supply chain resilience, and economic and trade cooperation. She said the visit will also continue to advance Taiwan-U.S. cooperation in the fields of security, technology, and the economy.
Duckworth has long promoted Taiwan-friendly policies
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Duckworth is an important member of the U.S. Senate’s “Taiwan Caucus”and has long actively promoted Taiwan-friendly policies. She has repeatedly supported pro-Taiwan legislation, co-signed joint letters expressing support for Taiwan, and during Taiwan’s severe COVID-19 outbreak, she traveled to Taiwan aboard a U.S. military transport aircraft to represent the U.S. government in announcing a vaccine donation, demonstrating support for Taiwan.
The Ministry said that this year also marks the 30th anniversary of Taiwan’s first direct presidential election. Duckworth and bipartisan senators jointly introduced a resolution recognizing Taiwan’s achievements in democratic development and reaffirming that the United States will continue to fulfill its security commitments to Taiwan under the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances.
In addition, she and Republican Senator Dan Sullivan jointly introduced the “Stand with Taiwan Act,” which advocates advance planning of sanctions measures to strengthen deterrence against a possible Chinese military attack on Taiwan.
Regarding U.S.-China relations, Duckworth said she is concerned that some U.S. policies toward China could affect existing Taiwan-support measures. She argued that approved arms sales to Taiwan should not be delayed because of U.S.-China interactions. The U.S. Congress, she said, will continue to oversee the executive branch to ensure that commitments to Taiwan are carried out, CNA reported.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also said that Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs and Illinois State Senator Paul Faraci will participate in part of the delegation’s itinerary. Taiwan hopes to further deepen exchanges and cooperation with U.S. state governments and state legislatures.
The Ministry emphasized that, in the face of challenges including the expansion of authoritarianism, gray-zone activities, and economic coercion, Taiwan will continue to work closely with the U.S. Congress, the U.S. executive branch, and like-minded partners. It said Taiwan will deepen a comprehensive partnership in areas including security, trade, and technology to jointly safeguard peace, stability, and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region.
