January 11, 2025
The White House on January 10 issued a statement on the United States’ enduring commitment to the Indo-Pacific region. The statement reiterated that the US administration under President Joe Biden had employed diverse avenues to assist Taiwan in maintaining a sufficient self-defense capability aimed at ensuring peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. These included the first-ever use of foreign military financing and presidential drawdown authority for Taiwan, as well as international military education and training. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) welcomes and appreciates the United States’ support.
MOFA also notes that the statement referred to South Pacific undersea cable projects undertaken by the United States in cooperation with Taiwan, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand as part of an unprecedented effort to improve digital communications in the region. Such multilateral collaboration has been an excellent example of Taiwan’s strategy of integrated diplomacy, which combines values-based diplomacy, alliance diplomacy, and economic and trade diplomacy. Taiwan is not only a vital force underpinning regional peace and global prosperity but also a reliable partner that safeguards international economic security and resilience.
In addition to the US military assistance to Taiwan cited in the statement, the Biden administration has announced 19 arms sales to Taiwan during its term. This has continued the US policy of normalizing arms sales to Taiwan and demonstrated the United States’ staunch commitment to help increase Taiwan’s defense capabilities. As President Lai Ching-te stated in his New Year’s address, “the more secure Taiwan, the more secure the world. The more resilient Taiwan, the sounder the defense of global democracy.” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has also cautioned other countries that Taiwan is not China’s business but rather a matter for the entire world. All sectors have seen that through the concerted efforts of Taiwan, the United States, and other nations over the past few years, an international consensus has developed regarding the importance of peace, stability, and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait.
Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific among the United States, Taiwan, and other allies and partners has laid a foundation for shared freedom, openness, prosperity, security, and resilience. MOFA sincerely thanks the Biden administration and looks forward to strengthening the solid and cordial Taiwan-US relationship to bolster cooperation with the new administration under President Donald Trump. Taiwan will continue to demonstrate its determination to defend itself and reinforce its defense capabilities and resilience through arms purchases from the United States, defense reforms, the enhancement of whole-of-society defense resilience, and other avenues. Taiwan will steadily deepen its close security, economic, and trade partnership with the United States so as to jointly advance peace, stability, and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait and the region.