《TAIPEI TIMES》US delegation head hails ‘tenacity’ of Taiwanese

By Chen Yun and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writer

The “courage and tenacity” of Taiwanese was a key takeaway from their visit, a delegation from the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies （CSIS） said yesterday in a meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen （蔡英文） in Taipei.

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The delegation — the first since COVID-19 restrictions were implemented in 2020 — touted strong people-to-people ties between the US and Taiwan.

The group comprise experts on Taiwan-US-China relations, as well as others experienced in Japan, South Korea, Australia and Indo-Pacific affairs.

Among the delegation is James Steinberg, dean of Johns Hopkins University’s Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, and Evan Medeiros, a senior fellow at Georgetown University’s Initiative for US-China Dialogue on Global Issues.

Steinberg expressed admiration on behalf of the delegation for the courage and tenacity exhibited by Taiwanese “when faced with complex challenges.”

The US-Taiwan friendship is built on mutually shared values, and the mutual promise to make a democratic and open society, Steinberg said.

The US understands the importance of acting together and hopes to deepen US-Taiwan ties, he said.

The delegation would have an opportunity to exchange views with Tsai and other Taiwanese officials on issues such as the challenges Taiwan faces and how to respond to such difficulties together, he said.

Tsai said that the delegation would provide many invaluable suggestions to help deepen ties with Washington.

Stability and peace in the Indo-Pacific region is vital to maintain the world order, while Taiwan, which is at the forefront of the democratic alliance’s defense, has staunchly defended the Taiwan Strait, she said.

We look forward to collaborating with our democratic allies, sharing our experiences, and jointly defending Taiwan’s way of life and the democratic values shared by its partners, she added.

Tsai made a special mention of US President Joe Biden this month approving an arms sale to Taiwan — the seventh since he took office — and thanked him for supporting Taiwan’s work to bolster its defenses.

The US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade and similar frameworks would further collaboration in other fields, create a safe and resilient supply chain, deepen ties, and boost freedom, openness and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, she said.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES