Taiwan’s new president looks at the CPTPP and wants to improve relations with the US

The new Taiwanese president, William Lai (Lai Ching-te), expressed this Monday his desire to lead the “next level” the “solid“existing association between Taiwan and the United States, a country to which he has thanked for its support”regardless of the Government or the private sector”.

“In the future, I hope that the US Executive and Congress will continue to support bilateral cooperation in various fields such as security, economy, trade, and science and technology, so that the strong partnership between Taiwan and the United States can be taken to the next level“said the president during a meeting with former US officials.

Lai, who took office on Monday replacing Tsai Ing-wen (2016-2024), recognized that the Taiwanese issue is an issue that “worries everyone” and, therefore, will use the “values-based diplomacy” to deepen the island’s ties with other countries and help maintain regional peace and stability.

Brian Deese, former director of the White House Economic Council with the Government of the current president, Joe Biden, stated for his part that the current partnership between Taiwan and the United States “It’s the best in history”.

“The United States has always maintained a consistent position and has consistently supported and deepened the partnership with Taiwan (…). US commitment to Taiwan is strong, bipartisan and principled, and will not change”Deese asserted.

Likewise, former US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage (2001-2009) noted that Washington “will continue to fulfill its long-standing commitments” with Taipei, while appreciating the “active efforts” of Taiwan for pushing military reforms in recent years.

Also among the American delegation was Laura Rosenberger, president of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT, the “de facto” US embassy on the island) and Richard Bush, an analyst at the Brookings think tank who previously served as president of the AIT.

Previously, Lai held a meeting with the president of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association (Tokyo’s “de facto” embassy in Taiwan), Yasuaki Tanizaki, with whom he reaffirmed the new Government’s interest in participating in more international organizations and joining regional mechanisms, such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Economic Cooperation (CPTPP).

The new island president also met with the wife of the late former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (2012-2020), Akie Abe, whom he thanked for her “contributions” to deepening relations between Taiwan and Japan.

Lai, crossed out as “secessionist” and “troublemaker” by Beijing, this Monday became the fifth president in Taiwan’s democratic history, officially beginning a term in which he will seek to preserve the island’s autonomy from China.

Domestically, Lai also faces important challenges, such as high housing costs and low salaries, which he will have to face in a Parliament with an opposition majority.