Taiwan’s 16th President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) was sworn in on Monday, alongside Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴). Following the inauguration, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) released a statement from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, congratulating President Lai and recognizing the strength of Taiwan’s democratic system.
In his statement, Blinken applauded the Taiwanese people for demonstrating robust democratic values through their electoral process. He says that the partnership between the U.S. and Taiwan is deeply rooted in shared democratic principles and continues to expand across various sectors, including trade, economy, and cultural exchanges.
Blinken expressed the U.S.'s eagerness to work collaboratively with President Lai to pursue common interests and values and reaffirmed the commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. Blinken says the U.S. is grateful to President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) for strengthening U.S.-Taiwan ties over the past eight years in office.