By Caribbean News Global 
MIAMI, USA – The following concludes (TECO in Miami), Director-General Charles Chi-Yu Chou’s interview on China’s recent military drills in response to Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen visit to diplomatic allies in Latin America and the meeting with US Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles, California, related Part 1. In part 2, Director-General Chou examines President Tsai Ing-wen’s visit to the US.
The US, Europe, and Latin America continue to stand with Taiwan. Recently, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen met with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of the US House of Representatives and a bipartisan group of congressional leaders at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.
“It is especially fitting for us to meet here, to pay tribute to a distinguished American president and world leader. A man who also played a crucial role, in partnership with the US Congress, in protecting and fortifying US-Taiwan relations at a time of changing diplomatic realities. President Reagan’s Six Assurances of 1982, on top of the landmark Taiwan Relations Act passed by Congress, laid the foundation for a strong and unique partnership of over four decades, during which we have maintained peace, promoted prosperity, and welcomed the advent of Taiwan’s democracy,” said president Tsai.
CNG: Director-General Chou, can you share the significance of President Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy meeting relative to Taiwan and the Taiwanese people?
Director General Chou: The meeting between President Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy holds significant value as it demonstrates the strong and unwavering support from the United States to Taiwan and its people. Moreover, the meeting pays tribute to former US President Ronald Reagan, who played a crucial role in safeguarding and reinforcing the US-Taiwan relations, which have endured for over four decades.
Taiwan views itself as a reliable partner to the world, a stabilizing force in the region, and a force for good. The meeting highlights the significance of these principles that have cemented the exceptional partnership between Taiwan and the United States and underscores the valuable lessons of President Reagan’s legacy.
CNG: How can this visit improve Taiwan’s standing (diplomatic, trade and commerce) with the US, Latin America and the Caribbean?
Director General Chou: President Tsai Ing-wen’s visit with US Speaker Kevin McCarthy highlights the robust and distinctive partnership between Taiwan and the United States. This, in turn, can encourage other nations, particularly those in Latin America and the Caribbean, to engage more actively with Taiwan and recognize its contributions to global peace and prosperity.
CNG: There is a clear advantage in utilizing Taiwan’s free trade accords, economic partnership arrangements, global allies and democratic norms. Establishing a global hub for tourism, trade and investment, with distribution centres in 13 diplomatic countries is – an exponential growth prospect.
Director General Chou: Taiwan has been actively engaging with regional and international partners including the United States in areas such as trade, economics, and investment. In fact, The leading role that Taiwan plays in global supply chain networks, particularly in semiconductors, has made it an indispensable partner in regional and global initiatives and agreements. Moreover, as a democratic country that upholds freedom and democracy, Taiwan is willing to share its successful experiences and expertise with international allies and like-minded friends to establish itself as a trustworthy partner in the above fields. It is reasonable to suggest that the more engagement the United States and its allies and partners have with Taiwan, the stronger the collective resilience of the democratic world to tackle coercion.
Therefore, Taiwan should be invited to play a more significant role in regional and international initiatives and agreements, such as the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). This is not only because Taiwan is well-prepared to meet the high joining standards of these agreements, but for the reason, that the strategic purpose of these agreements can only be perfectly served when Taiwan, one of the most important players in the region and the world is included.
