On the evening of June 21, Legislative Yuan President Daniel K.Y. Han (韓國瑜) led a cross-party delegation of Legislative Yuan members to the United States to advance parliamentary diplomacy. The eight-member delegation included KMT Legislators Dr. Lai Shyh-Bao, Dr. Yang Chiung-Ying, and Lin Szu-Ming; DPP Legislators Chen Kuan-Ting, Lee Po-Yi, and Kuo Yu-Ching; and TPP Legislator Dr. Hung Yu-Hsiang. Legislative Yuan Vice President Dr. Johnny C. Chiang (江啟臣), Legislators Lo Chih-Chiang, Tu Chuan-Chi, Niu Hsu-Ting, Dr. Lin Pei-Hsiang, Chen Ching-Hui, and Chang Chih-Lun, Secretary General Chou Wan-Lai of the Legislative Yuan, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Baushuan Ger, and Deputy Mayor Cheng Chao-Hsin of Taichung City went to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport to see the delegation off and wish them a successful trip.
In pre-departure remarks at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport alongside the cross-party legislators, President Han expressed gratitude for the bipartisan welcome letter jointly signed by members of the U.S. Senate, as well as for the assistance provided by the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) in arranging the relevant exchange itinerary. These arrangements, he said, will allow the delegation to engage in in-depth exchanges of views with members of the U.S. Congress and representatives from various sectors on major issues including Taiwan-U.S. relations, security cooperation, economic development, and industrial strategy, thereby further deepening the partnership between Taiwan and the United States.
President Han stated that the delegation to the U.S. has four key missions. First, they aim to advance parliamentary diplomacy and deepen exchanges and cooperation between the legislative institutions of Taiwan and the United States with sincerity and enthusiasm. Second, on behalf of the Republic of China and the people of Taiwan, the delegation will extend sincere congratulations to the United States as it prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of its founding. Third, the delegation will return to Taiwan on the inaugural nonstop flight from Washington, D.C. to Taipei, witnessing an important milestone in transportation links between Taiwan and the United States. Fourth, the delegation will visit Arizona to gain a firsthand understanding of Taiwanese companies’ investments in the United States, visit TSMC’s U.S. facilities and meet with employees, and learn more about Taiwan-U.S. industrial cooperation and the current development of Taiwanese businesses overseas. President Han also thanked TSMC for its assistance in arranging the visit, which will allow the Legislative Yuan to gain a deeper understanding of Taiwanese companies’ presence in global industrial supply chains and their development achievements.
President Han further emphasized that, among the 113 members of the Legislative Yuan, 75 have joined the Legislative Yuan USA Caucus, fully demonstrating the importance that legislators across party lines attach to deepening Taiwan-U.S. relations. With members from the ruling and opposition parties across the three major parties, the delegation is a strong reflection of Taiwan’s mature democracy and spirit of unity and cooperation. It also demonstrates the Legislative Yuan’s shared determination to advance parliamentary diplomacy and secure greater international support.
At President Han’s invitation, Legislative Yuan Vice President Chiang, who also serves as Honorary Chair of the Legislative Yuan USA Caucus, delivered remarks. Vice President Chiang stated that a delegation personally led by the President of the Legislative Yuan to promote parliamentary diplomacy carries both strong symbolic significance and substantive impact. Just last month, President Han led a delegation to the United Kingdom and France. Soon after returning to Taiwan, the Legislative Yuan welcomed a delegation from the French Parliament, fully demonstrating the concrete results and long-term impact of parliamentary diplomacy. Vice President Chiang further noted that, as the international landscape changes rapidly, parliamentary diplomacy has become an important pillar of national diplomacy and plays a significant role in raising Taiwan’s international visibility and expanding its international space.
Vice President Chiang further stated that Taiwan-U.S. relations have continued to deepen in recent years, with fruitful results in security cooperation, economic and trade exchanges, and industrial development. The United States is currently Taiwan’s largest trading partner, while Taiwan is the United States’ fourth-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching US$246 billion. Looking ahead, important issues that affect Taiwan-U.S. economic and trade development, including the avoidance of double taxation, will require the legislatures of both sides to continue deepening exchanges and cooperation, work together on solutions, and promote smoother and more prosperous bilateral economic and trade relations.
Vice President Chiang emphasized that the delegation’s itinerary is very full, covering both Arizona and Washington, D.C. over seven days and six nights, making it a truly demanding “itinerary of endurance.” In addition to wishing the delegation a fruitful and successful visit, he also presented President Han with multivitamins as a symbolic gesture, noting that while working hard for the country’s diplomacy and for parliamentary exchanges, President Han must also maintain the stamina needed to continue securing more international support and friendship for the nation.
At the conclusion of the pre-departure press conference, President Han, Vice President Chiang, and all participants took a group photo and chanted “May Taiwan-U.S. relations and friendship last forever,” demonstrating the shared determination of the ruling and opposition parties to work together in advancing parliamentary diplomacy and deepening the Taiwan-U.S. partnership.
Afterward, seen off by Vice President Chiang, several legislators, Secretary General Chou, Vice Minister Ger, and Deputy Mayor Cheng, President Han formally departed for the United States with the cross-party delegation of legislators. The delegation thus began its parliamentary diplomacy visit, continuing its efforts to deepen the Taiwan-U.S. partnership, promote bilateral cooperation, and enhance the well-being of the people. (2026/6/21)
