Taiwan's Tsai Ing-wen hails US NDAA defence act for 'vital' role in Indo-Pacific security
South China Morning Post
5 min read
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has hailed a key US defence act for its vital role in bolstering the island's security and defence capabilities in the face of growing sabre-rattling by Beijing.
The US National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) "plays a vital part in maintaining the security of Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific region", Tsai told a bipartisan group of US congressmen who reviewed the 2024 version of the law.
"The NDAA continues to include policies and initiatives to assist Taiwan in bolstering its self-defence capabilities and has deepened Taiwan-US security cooperation," she said, as she met the US delegation in her office on Wednesday.
Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.
The nine-strong group, led by Republican lawmaker Mike Rogers, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, arrived in Taipei late on Tuesday for a three-day visit.
It is "one of the largest US congressional delegations to [visit] Taiwan in recent years", according to the island's foreign ministry.
It's wheels down for one of the largest #US🇺🇸 congressional delegations to #Taiwan🇹🇼 in years! The group focusing on security affairs comprises House Armed Services Committee Chair @RepMikeRogersAL, Ranking Member @RepAdamSmith & 7 other lawmakers from both sides of the aisle! pic.twitter.com/suBbazM4wG
- 外交部 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC (Taiwan) 🇹🇼 (@MOFA_Taiwan) June 27, 2023
Tsai thanked Rogers and the other delegates for their annual work in reviewing the NDAA, and also praised the US Congress for its "long-standing and bipartisan concern it has shown for Taiwan security, and for expressing support for Taiwan through concrete actions".
As exchanges with the US have grown under Tsai, Taiwan has in recent months faced constant military threats from Beijing, including more frequent warplane sorties into the island's air defence zone.
For Beijing, self-governed Taiwan is breakaway territory that must be brought back under its control, by force if necessary, and it sees any overseas exchanges as a violation of its sovereignty.
The People's Liberation Army staged unprecedented live-fire drills following US House speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taipei in August, and also simulated precision strikes and a blockade of the island after Tsai met Pelosi's successor in California in April.
All members of the visiting US delegation were paying close attention to international developments and the challenges facing liberal democracies, Tsai noted during the meeting on Wednesday.
"Serving on the Armed Services Committee, you have continued to protect the national security of the United States and its democratic allies through hearings, bills, resolutions and other active steps," she said.
The United States, like most countries, does not recognise Taiwan as independent. However, it is a strong supporter of the island and its biggest arms supplier, despite the absence of formal relations, and is opposed to any forcible change in the status quo.
Taiwan-related provisions in the NDAA have gained prominence since the previous US administration of Donald Trump assumed a largely anti-Beijing stance.
Tsai also thanked the Congress for supporting the first part of the US-Taiwan "21st Century" trade initiative signed earlier this month, calling it a milestone move.
"Going forward, we hope to work together with you to promptly and fully address the issue of double taxation that Taiwan and American enterprises and individuals face," she said.
Taiwan will also continue to work with the US in areas including national defence, in order to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the region, Tsai pledged.
In response, Rogers lauded the "long and important friendship" between the US and Taiwan.
"Our shared commitment to the rule of law, democracy, and a free and open Indo-Pacific has only deepened [that] friendship. As you can see from the delegation with me today, our support for Taiwan is bipartisan and unwavering," he said.
The delegation is in Taiwan as part of a larger visit to the Indo-Pacific region, and is expected to meet other Taiwanese officials to discuss bilateral relations, regional security, trade and investment, and other significant issues of mutual interest, according to the American Institute in Taiwan, the de facto US embassy.
Rogers is one of five Republicans in the delegation, and the rest are Democrats.
Their visit comes days after the armed services committees of both the House of Representatives and Senate approved the 2024 NDAA, which calls for joint military exercises with Taiwan and comprehensive training of the island's forces.
The US$886.3 billion budgeted for the 2024 version also calls for engagement with Taiwanese officials to expand cooperation on military cybersecurity activities, and support for the island in acquiring defence articles and services to help build up its asymmetric strategies.
The proposals will need final approval from Congress.
