Taiwan’s Tsai Welcomes Growing Support From United States

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen delivers her inaugural address at the Taipei Guest House in Taipei, Taiwan, on May 20, 2020. Wang Yu Ching/Taiwan Presidential Office/Handout via Reuters/File Photo

In a pre-recorded address to a Washington think tank on Aug. 12, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen laid out a set of plans and principles to guide the future of Taiwan, its role as a leading democracy in the Indo-Pacific region, its relationship with the United States, and its support for the people of Hong Kong.

Tsai also spoke at length about Taiwan’s relationship with mainland China, where a one-party, authoritarian communist regime still reigns after nearly 71 years in power.

Growing Relationship With US

In remarks delivered to the Hudson Institute, Tsai said that Taiwan’s recent budget for defense represents 2.6 percent of GDP, and she expects that to grow.