President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) received a delegation from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute (RRPFI) on Thursday. Before addressing key diplomatic matters, Lai expressed concern over the ongoing wildfires in California. During the meeting with the foundation’s President David Trulio and his delegation, Lai emphasized Taiwan's commitment to implementing the "Four Pillars of Peace Action Plan."
Lai highlighted Reagan's role as a steadfast ally of Taiwan, citing the Six Assurances of 1982 and the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 as cornerstones of U.S.-Taiwan relations. These commitments, particularly the Six Assurances, were later incorporated into the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018, demonstrating enduring bipartisan support for Taiwan across U.S. government branches.
In response to the rising threat of authoritarianism, Lai emphasized the continued relevance of Reagan's "peace through strength" doctrine. He outlined Taiwan's commitment to the Four Pillars plan, which focuses on strengthening national defense, building economic security, maintaining stable cross-strait relations, and promoting values-based diplomacy with democratic allies.
Foundation President Trulio noted the significance of their visit amid the upcoming U.S. presidential transition and praised Taiwan's vibrant democracy and technological leadership. He emphasized the importance of maintaining peace through strength and looked forward to deepening U.S.-Taiwan cooperation on shared commitments to freedom, democracy, and stability.