President Daniel K.Y. Han: Thanking the United States for its bipartisan staunch support to Taiwan. Hoping Taiwan and the United States will safeguard peace across the Taiwan Strait together.

Accompanied by Legislative Yuan Vice President Dr. Johnny C. Chiang, KMT Party Whip Fu Kun-chi, DPP Legislator Wang Ting-yu, Taiwan People’s Party Party Whip Huang Kuo-chang, Secretary-General Chester W.L. Chou, International Affairs Department Director Kevin C.F. Lin and AIT Deputy Director Jeremy Cornforth, Legislative Yuan President Daniel K.Y. Han met Mike Gallagher, Chairman of the United States House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party and the delegation the afternoon of February 22.

President Han presented the spring couplets of “Celebrating the Good Fortune in the Year of the Dragon” to Chairman Gallagher and the delegation, and wished them a happy lunar new year. Vice President Chiang presented a baseball cap of Frogmen of the R.O.C. Army to Chairman Gallagher and posed for photos with the delegation and three representatives of the party caucuses. The meeting started after the media left the venue.

President Han first of all extended his heartfelt welcome to Chairman Gallagher and the delegation members to the Legislative Yuan. He stated that Taiwan enjoys cordial and close relation with the United States. He thanked the United States for its bipartisan staunch support to Taiwan. He hoped that the U.S. government will continue to support Taiwan on issues related with foreign policy, national defense and cross-Strait relation, so that Taiwan can have more stable protection.

Chairman Gallagher stated that he was honored to visit the Legislative Yuan and thanked President Han for receiving him and the delegation, which was comprised of bipartisan members. The purpose of the visit was to demonstrate the U.S. bipartisan support to Taiwan, because Taiwan-U.S. relations transcend political parties based on longstanding shared interests and values.

President Han agreed and stated that regardless of how many times elections held or alternation of political parties in power experienced, bilateral friendship and shared values of peace and democracy and staunch support will remain unchanged. He continued to state that thanks to the U.S. strong support to Taiwan’s security over the past seven decades, Taiwan is able to enjoy stability, security and development. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, he wanted to express his sincerest gratitude to the United Stated. He hoped that bilateral friendship will continue to consolidate and deepen to protect peace across the Taiwan Strait.

After President Han introduced Vice President Chiang and legislators and Chairman Gallagher introduced his delegation members, both sides exchanged views on issues related with international situation such as Russia-Ukraine War, U.S.-Taiwan relations, cross-Strait relations, Taiwan’s response to China’s disinformation threats, energy security, operations and roles of the Legislative Yuan, interaction and negotiation of different party caucuses. Both sides had lively and candid discussion for 50 minutes with an amicable atmosphere.

Before the meeting was concluded, Chairman Gallagher extended an invitation to President Han and Vice President Chiang to visit the U.S. at an appropriate time. In response, President Han hoped to host a banquet in honor of Chairman Gallagher and the delegation next time when they visit Taiwan. Chairman Gallagher accepted the invitation. The meeting concluded after President Han and Chairman Gallagher exchanged gifts. (E)