Taiwan can play a key role in the global tech industry as more countries are concerned about data security. That was the word from Taiwan’s new representative to the US Hsiao Bi-kihm on Monday. Hsiao has been in the US for ten days and held her first Chinese-language press conference on Monday.
Hsiao said that COVID-19 has had a tremendous impact on the global economy. She said the US is restructuring its economic alliances and Taiwan can play an important role as a reliable partner and place for manufacturing. The US is also very concerned about data security in technology. Hsiao said Taiwan should take this opportunity to play a key role in the global tech industry.
Regarding Taiwan’s role in US-China relations, Hsiao said Taiwan has never been any country’s “card”. It has its own national interests and shares the values of freedom, democracy and regional security with the US. Taiwan's democratic and transparent government is also a reason Taiwan has been able to successfully contain COVID-19 and has become a reliable partner for the US during the pandemic.
Hsiao also said that US-Taiwan relations will focus on further cooperation in trade and national security. In terms of trade, she said there needs to be further discussion in Taiwan about the management of agricultural imports before Taiwan can have a Bilateral Trade Agreement with the US. She said she looks forward to helping the two sides move forward in pursuing shared interests and goals.