President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) says the partnership between the United States and Taiwan will continue to grow no matter who the next president of Taiwan is. Tsai’s comments were made during a speech at the American Independence Day Reception dinner held by the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) on Thursday evening.
The three leading candidates for Taiwan’s 2024 presidential election were all in attendance at the reception, namely, sitting Vice President Lai Ching-te (賴清德), New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜), and Taiwan People’s Party chair Ko Wen-je (柯文哲).
Tsai also thanked the U.S. and its people for supporting Taiwan, which has helped build Taiwan’s confidence in maintaining and safeguarding its democracy and regional peace. She adds that the recent signing of the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade will strengthen economic ties between the two sides.
AIT Taipei director Sandra Oudkirk also gave remarks at the event, saying that it’s been a great honor to collaborate with the Tsai administration in expanding U.S.-Taiwan relations over the past 2 years. As Tsai’s second term comes to an end, Oudkirk says Taiwan has become an even better place under Tsai’s leadership.