President Tsai Ing-wen has met with visiting members of the US House of Representatives.
During the meeting on Sunday, Tsai spoke about Taiwan’s efforts to join the US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
Tsai said that the US is Taiwan’s second-largest trade partner and that the two countries have close economic ties. She said the government is working hard to secure a place for Taiwan in the second round of talks between TPP member states. She told the visiting congressmen she hopes that they will help Taiwan in its efforts to join the TPP.
Tsai also thanked the US House of Representatives for its recent decision to reaffirm the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances. The Taiwan Relations Act and Six Assurances are the basis of the informal US-Taiwan relationship. The Six Assurances contain provisions allowing the US to sell Taiwan defensive weapons and pledging not to intervene in matters regarding Taiwan’s sovereignty. Tsai said the gesture means a lot to the people of Taiwan.