President Lai Thanks U.S. for His Transit Stop in Hawaii, Reiterates Commitment to Peace
On November 30, Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te expressed gratitude to the United States for facilitating his transit stop in Hawaii and reaffirmed Taiwan’s commitment to maintaining peace and preventing war in the Taiwan Strait.
Lai arrived in Hawaii on November 30. He visited the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, where he laid a wreath in memory of those who lost their lives during the 1941 attack by Japan on Pearl Harbor. The USS Arizona was sunk during this attack.
“Our visit to the [USS Arizona] Memorial today, in particular, reminds us of the importance of ensuring peace. Peace is priceless, and war has no winner. We have to fight ― fight together ― to prevent war,” President Lai said.
China has intensified its maritime expansion in recent years and has become the greatest threat to the national security of the United States. As such, the U.S. arranging President Lai’s visit to the USS Arizona Memorial manifests the strong determination of the U.S. and Taiwan to work together to contain China, according to Yeh Yao-Yuan, a professor of International Studies at the University of St. Thomas, Houston.
While in Hawaii, Lai telephoned several senior U.S. politicians who are pro-Taiwan and considered “old friends.”
On December 1, former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) spoke with President Lai over the phone, congratulating him on his electoral victory earlier this year and expressing her strong support for Taiwan.
During their 20-minute phone call, Pelosi emphasized the bipartisan support for Taiwan in the U.S. Congress. She underscored the importance of resolving the double-taxation issue between the U.S. and Taiwan, pledging that she would work on passing legislation to fix the issue.
Lai spent two nights in Hawaii before traveling to the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu, two of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies in the South Pacific.
References:
[1] Focus Taiwan
[2] Focus Taiwan
[3] Taipei Times
President Lai Has Phone Call with U.S. House Speaker Johnson
During his stopover in Guam, Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te had a telephone call on December 5 with U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), marking the first time Lai had spoken directly with Johnson since taking office in May.
While in Guam, Lai also held a call with U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and a video conference with U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS).
During their conversations, the U.S. representatives emphasized the bipartisan Congressional support to help Taiwan preserve its democracy and freedom, and to continue strengthening relations between the U.S. and Taiwan.
Johnson mentioned Congress’ recognition of Taiwan as being at the core of the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy and its wariness of challenges and threats posed by China.
The House speaker said that the U.S. Congress continues to pass bills to strengthen the U.S. response to China and its capacity to help Taiwan enhance its defense capabilities.
President Lai told Senator Wicker that Taiwan would not cower in the face of increasing threats and that his government was committed to boosting Taiwan’s defense capabilities and economic resilience.
Wicker said he was pleased to see Taiwan’s commitment to self-defense and would continue to support Taiwan’s security after taking up the chairmanship of the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services next year. Wicker is currently the ranking member of the committee.
Lai arrived in Guam on the evening of December 4 after concluding a brief visit to Taiwan’s Pacific ally Tuvalu. He is set to complete his first overseas trip as president on December 6.
References:
[1] Focus Taiwan
[2] Taipei Times
U.S. Approves US$387 Million Arms Sales to Taiwan
On November 29, the U.S. government announced arms sales to Taiwan involving spare parts and support for F-16 fighter aircraft and follow-up support for Improved Mobile Subscriber Equipment (IMSE), at a total cost of US$387 million.
It was the 18th arms sale to Taiwan approved by U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration.
In a statement released on November 29, the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said the U.S. Department of State has approved foreign military sales of spare parts and support for F-16 fighter jets and active electronically scanned array radars and related equipment at an estimated cost of US$320 million to Taiwan.
The agency said the proposed sale would improve Taiwan’s ability to meet threats by maintaining the operational readiness of its fleet of F-16 aircraft.
The sale of spare parts and support services for F-16 aircraft would be transferred from U.S. government stock, the agency said. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2025.
In another statement, the DSCA said the U.S. State Department has also approved the sale of follow-up support for IMSE for about US$65 million.
This proposed sale aims to extend those same services for an additional two years, the agency said.
The two arms sale deals serve “U.S. national, economic, and security interests by supporting the recipient’s continuing efforts to modernize its armed forces and to maintain a credible defensive capability,” it said.
