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Taipei, Taiwan – Analysts say the United States will continue to engage in formal and informal interactions with the Taiwanese government and military during President-elect Donald Trump's second term, regardless of Beijing's inevitable reaction of “anger” and “hurt feelings.” It states that official contacts should be increased and encouraged.
Experts say interactions with U.S. officials, academics, and members of think tanks, foundations, and research institutions are critical to conveying accurate information to the U.S. and Taiwanese peoples and their respective governments.
On Thursday, a delegation from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Research Institute met with Taiwanese President William Lai, Vice President Bikim Hsiao, and Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung.
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Taiwan President William Lai (right) speaks with David Truglio, chairman and chief executive officer of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Research Institute, in Taipei. (Official photo provided by I Chen Lin / Presidential Office)
“We deeply appreciate the bipartisan support of our American friends and welcome delegations from the United States and like-minded countries,” Lin told Fox News Digital in exclusive comments.
“These visits demonstrate concrete support for Taiwan and contribute to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, which is essential to global security and prosperity,” the foreign minister added.
“To advance President Reagan's legacy and shared values, the president, vice president, and “I met with the president, the foreign minister and other government leaders.” Peace through freedom, democracy, economic opportunity, and strength. ”
President-elect Donald Trump speaks at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on January 7, 2025. (Reuters/Carlos Barria)
Truglio described Taiwan as a “vibrant democracy and a major economic partner of the United States,” and said the visit by U.S. civil society organizations, foundations, think tanks, and senior U.S. government officials “is a significant step forward in our relationship with the United States.” “This is a valuable opportunity to maintain this,” he added. Taiwan's leaders, please meet the challenges and opportunities and visibly promote our shared values. ”
The Reagan Foundation, a group of national security and business leaders, spent a week visiting Taiwan, a self-governing island that has never been ruled, and met with representatives of all three of Taiwan's major political parties and senior Taiwanese government officials. . communist china. Beijing claims Taiwan as its own territory and never misses an opportunity to make big statements against what it calls “separatist forces.”
Screenshots captured from the video show the People's Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command launching a large-scale joint military exercise involving naval vessels and military aircraft around Taiwan on May 24, 2024. (Feng Hao/People's Liberation Army/Chinese Army/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Chinese President Xi Jinping's 2024 New Year's address includes the assertion that “unification” is a “historical necessity” even though the two countries have been ruled separately for more than 70 years. Ta. Beijing has rejected a pledge to use only peaceful means to achieve “unification” with Taiwan, and says it is also reserving the option of using military force.
Foreign Minister Hayashi did not directly refer to then-Republican candidate Trump's pre-election remark that “Taiwan should pay for its defense,'' but he did not sidestep the issue. In comments to FOX News Digital, Lin said, “Taiwan has increased its defense spending by more than 80% since 2016, reaching US$20 billion in 2024. “Taiwan's total military expenditure totals $20 billion.” It is expected to account for 20% of the national government's annual budget, which is more than the US budget. ”
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President William Rye meets with a delegation from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute. (Official photo provided by I Chen Lin / Presidential Office)
This is the second time in recent years that the Reagan Foundation has led a delegation to Taiwan. A recent poll conducted by the foundation found that approximately 70-75% of Americans, both Democrats and Republicans, support strong action if China makes the unwise choice to use military force against Taiwan. Then he answered. For example, a majority agreed that in the event of an attack, the United States should immediately recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state.
The current reality is that China faces serious challenges domestically and is by no means in a strong position. In 2022, despite threats of “dire consequences,” then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, but China's response was anything but “dire.” The following year, after Republicans took control of the House of Representatives, then-President Tsai Ing-wen met with then-Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy while in California, marking the historic first meeting between the Taiwanese president and the Speaker of the US House of Representatives. US soil.
People walk past a sign welcoming then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday, August 2, 2022 in Taipei, Taiwan. (AP Photo/Yingying Chiang)
China responded with three days of military exercises and a mock blockade of the island, but these drills and exercises did not demonstrate any new capabilities not already known to the U.S. or Taiwan's defense ministries. After meeting with McCarthy in 2023, President Tsai told the media, “To maintain peace, we must be strong,” apparently paraphrasing former President Ronald Reagan.
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“China can and will make a fuss about visits, especially visits involving current U.S. government officials,” Liam Keene told Fox News Digital in an email. spoke. “However, we cannot allow dramatic actions such as mock blockades and the firing of rockets into the sea to prevent close U.S.-Taiwan exchanges in any way.” Keene, a member of the Public Affairs Association, said his organization strongly supported and contributed to the Taiwan Travel Act being passed by Congress in 2018 and signed into law by then-President Donald Trump. said.
The Taiwan Travel Act was predictably harshly criticized by China, but it also removed many previous restrictions on travel to Taiwan by US authorities. “This law was passed unanimously in the U.S. Senate,” Keene said. “China has called it a 'red line' that should not be crossed,” said Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida), [former] Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio), this is exactly the right way to deal with bullying by the Chinese Communist Party. ”
Foreign Minister Yoshitaka Hayashi speaks with the US delegation (Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Foreign Minister Lin told Fox News Digital that the Taiwanese government looks forward to working with the new U.S. administration. “Strengthening economic partnership is also important,” he said. “Taiwanese companies such as TSMC, which has invested $65 billion in Arizona, are increasing their investments in the United States,” Lin said, adding that Taiwan's President Lai is stressing the importance of Taiwan's global role. Pointing this out, Lin quoted Lai as saying, “Taiwan will become safer.'' , the world will be safer. ”
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A war between the United States and China over Taiwan would be disastrous for both the superpowers and the planet. Apart from the terrible human suffering, bloomberg economics Estimates for 2024 suggest that the “cost” of such a war could be around $10 trillion. 10% of global GDP – “dwarfed by the devastation from the Ukraine war, the coronavirus pandemic, and the global financial crisis.” Increasing contact is key to ensuring that such conflicts never occur.