Taiwan’s foreign minister praises importance of U.S. ties, says group visit ‘conducive to peace and stability’

Taipei, Taiwan – Analysts say the United States should increase and promote official and unofficial contacts with Taiwan’s government and Taiwanese military during President-elect Donald Trump’s second term, despite Beijing’s inevitable “angry” and “injured” responses “emotional” reaction.

Experts say communication between U.S. officials, academics and members of think tanks, foundations and institutions is critical to conveying accurate messages to the U.S. and Taiwanese publics and their respective governments.

On Thursday, a delegation from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute met with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, Vice President Hsiao Pi-chien and Foreign Affairs Minister Lin Chia-lung.

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“We deeply appreciate the bipartisan support from 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 vital to global security and prosperity,” the foreign minister added.

“We met with the president, the vice president, the foreign secretary and other government leaders,” David Truglio, president and CEO of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, told Fox News Digital in Taipei. To advance the legacy of President Reagan and our shared values ​​of freedom and democracy, economic opportunity, and peace through 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 an important economic partner of the United States,” adding that visits to Taiwan by U.S. civil society groups, foundations, think tanks and U.S. government officials are “in keeping with Taiwan.” A valuable opportunity for relationship”. Taiwan’s leaders respond to challenges and opportunities and visibly promote shared values. ”

The Reagan Foundation, made up of national security and business leaders, met with representatives of all three of Taiwan’s main political parties as well as senior Taiwanese government officials during a weeklong visit to the self-governing island that has never been ruled by Taiwan. . Beijing claims Taiwan as its territory and misses no opportunity to make rhetorical statements against what it calls “separatist forces.”

Screenshots from the video show that on May 24, 2024, the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army and Chinese Navy ships and military aircraft held a large-scale joint military exercise near Taiwan. (Feng Hao/PLA/Chinese Army/Anadolu, Getty Images)

In his 2024 New Year’s address, Chinese President Xi Jinping claimed that although the two countries had ruled separately for more than 70 years, “reunification” was a “historical necessity”. Beijing has refused to commit to pursuing only peaceful options to achieve “unity” and said it reserves the option of using military force.

Although Foreign Minister Lin did not directly quote then-Republican candidate Trump’s remarks before the US election that “Taiwan should pay us for defense expenses,” he did not avoid the issue. In an interview with Fox News Digital Channel, Lin said, “Since 2016, Taiwan’s defense spending has increased by more than 80% and will reach 20 billion US dollars in 2024. In 2025, if the special budget for military procurement is included, Taiwan’s total military spending Estimated to account for 20% of the central government’s annual budget – higher than in the United States”

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President Lai Thanh Duc met with a delegation from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Research Institute. (Official Photography: I Chen Lin/Office of the President)

This is the second time in many years that the Reagan Foundation has led a delegation to visit Taiwan. A recent poll conducted by the foundation showed that about 70-75% of Americans (both Democrats and Republicans) would support strong measures if China made the unwise choice to use force against Taiwan. For example, a strong majority agrees that the United States should immediately recognize Taiwan as a sovereign nation in the event of an attack.

The current reality is that China faces major domestic challenges and does not have any advantages. In 2022, the then Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan despite the threat of “dire consequences”, but China’s response was not “terrible.” The following year, after the Republicans took control of the House of Representatives, then-President Tsai Ing-wen met with then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California. This was the historic first meeting between the president of Taiwan and the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

People walk past a billboard welcoming then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Tuesday, August 2, 2022, in Taipei, Taiwan. (AP Photo/Jiang Yingying)

China responded with three days of military drills and a simulated blockade of the island, but the drills and exercises did not demonstrate new capabilities that the U.S. or Taiwan’s defense departments were already aware of. President Tsai Ing-wen told the media after her meeting with McCarthy in 2023 that “in order to maintain peace, we must be strong,” apparently paraphrasing the words of former President Ronald Reagan.

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“China can and will be angry about visits, especially those involving U.S. government officials,” Liam Keane told Fox News Digital via email. “But we cannot allow mock blockades and rocket launches into the sea. “The performance prevents closer exchanges between the United States and Taiwan in any way.” Kean, a member of the Taiwan Public Affairs Association, a US non-governmental organization, pointed out that his organization strongly supports the “Taiwan Travel Act” and helped Congress pass it and it was passed in 2018. It was signed into law by then-President Donald Trump.

The Taiwan Travel Act — which has predictably been heavily criticized by China — removes many of the restrictions on travel to Taiwan that U.S. officials had previously placed. “The bill passed the U.S. Senate unanimously,” Keane said. “I think China calling it a ‘red line’ only emboldened the bill’s supporters, such as Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio.” and [former] Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Ohio, this is exactly the right way to respond to the Chinese Communist Party’s bullying.

Foreign Minister Lin Jialong speaks with the US delegation (Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Foreign Minister Lin told Fox News Digital that the Taiwanese government looks forward to cooperating with the new U.S. administration. “Strengthening economic partnerships is also crucial,” he said. “Taiwanese companies, such as TSMC, which invested $65 billion in Arizona, are increasingly investing in the United States,” Lin noted.

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A war between the United States and China over Taiwan would be disastrous for both superpowers and the world. In addition to the horrific toll, Bloomberg Economics estimated in 2024 that the “cost” of such a war could be around $10 trillion; 10% of global GDP – “War in Ukraine, COVID-19, and the Global “Increased engagement between the United States and Taiwan to build trust and deliver accurate, unbiased messaging is key to ensuring that such a conflict never occurs.