Legislative Yuan President Daniel K.Y. Han, together with Vice President Johnny Chiang, Legislators Hsu Chiao-Hsin and Chang Chia-Chun from the KMT, Legislator Su Chiao-Hui from the DPP, Legislator Huang Shan-Shan from the TPP, and Director Kevin C.F. Lin of the Department of International Affairs, met with a 20-member delegation from the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council (USTBC) in the afternoon of September 3rd.

President Han and Vice President Chiang warmly greeted the visitors and took a group photo with them. President Han then expressed his gratitude to the American guests for visiting the Legislative Yuan and was pleased to welcome the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council to Taiwan. He thanked the council for its significant contributions since its establishment in 1976, including its efforts to promote the Taiwan Relations Act and support Taiwan's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), which has secured Taiwan's position in international trade. He noted that despite Taiwan's small geographical size compared to the 193 UN member states, it is a highly vibrant country. Despite accounting for only 0.03% of Earth’s landmass and 0.3% of the world population, Taiwan has a substantial industrial output that accounts for 3% of all products circulating the globe, with many everyday goods being manufactured in Taiwan. President Han further suggested that business activities and exchanges between Taiwan and the U.S. could be expanded. The significance of this visit could also be enhanced by finding ways to combine the respective advantages of Taiwan and the U.S. in the future in order to boost trade. President Han also expressed his hope for American universities to establish branches in Taiwan, noting that seven Taiwanese universities have recently closed due to declining birth rates. He encouraged American universities to make use of existing educational facilities and resources in Taiwan to strengthen bilateral educational exchanges and cooperation.

USTBC Chairman Keith Krach spoke next, expressing his pleasure at being back in Taiwan. He recalled his first visit to Taiwan as a businessman forty years ago and his subsequent visits as a diplomat. Leading the delegation as Chairman of the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy, Krach hoped to strengthen bilateral investments by connecting representatives from top U.S. firms with Taiwanese public sector officials. He emphasized the importance of the U.S.-Taiwan business relationship for global security and supply chain stability. He also mentioned his recent trip to southern Taiwan to engage with young entrepreneurs and the potential for greater U.S.-Taiwan cooperation to create greater benefits for the world. Krach reiterated his call to action from four years ago for a stronger economic relationship between the U.S. and Taiwan, notably for the establishment of an idealistically aligned democratic supply chain. He highlighted the importance of bipartisan cooperation in the U.S. to build frameworks like the Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue (EPPD) and the U.S.-Taiwan Technology Trade and Investment Collaboration (TTIC). In fact, the Krach Institute has established a dedicated department, the Taiwan Center for Innovation and Prosperity (TCIP), to increase U.S. investment in Taiwan and promote Taiwan’s overall visibility abroad. The institute has also created an online platform for tech diplomacy to cultivate tech talent. By the end of the year, the institute plans to establish a global trust network certification to support Taiwanese companies, and Krach wished Taiwan and its people continued success and safety.

Vice President Chiang then mentioned his recent return from Texas, where he focused on Taiwan's security issues and TSMC's investment in Arizona. He also visited Formosa Plastics in Houston, gaining valuable insights into expanding U.S.-Taiwan cooperation. He hopes to see more American schools establish branches in Taiwan, emphasizing that education is the foundation of trade prosperity. Chairman Krach agreed, affirming that the purpose of the Taiwan Center for Innovation and Prosperity is to promote U.S.-Taiwan exchanges. Chairman Krach agreed with President Han and Vice President Chiang that education is key to creating connections and that linking people through education is very important.

During the exchange session, Legislator Hsu Chiao-Hsin first welcomed the delegation on behalf of the KMT. She introduced herself as a member of the Foreign and National Defense Committee, thanked the U.S. for its military equipment and aid, and expressed hope for cooperation to achieve zero carbon emissions to address climate change. She also mentioned the emergence of new types of crime in the Internet age and legislative efforts to ensure safety in an AI-driven world. She concluded by thanking the delegation for their support of Taiwan and being its steadfast ally.

DPP Legislator Su Chiao-Hui expressed gratitude for U.S. assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic and noted that all three major Taiwanese parties agree that the U.S. is Taiwan's best ally. She stated that both Taiwan and the U.S. believe in science, rule of law, and democratic ideals, which will continue to link the two countries together. She further noted Taiwan's desire to not only be protected but to be strong enough to protect itself. In terms of energy and defense issues, she hoped Taiwan could become the best ally for the U.S.

TPP Legislator Huang Shan-Shan shared the same positive view of the U.S. as the other two legislators. She mentioned her visit to Michigan and Washington in July and noted that education is a major issue for foreign companies investing in Taiwan. She suggested that if American universities were to establish branches in Taiwan, such an educational commitment would encourage more foreign companies to stay. She also hoped the delegation could assist Taiwan in joining international organizations such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and in facilitating the U.S.-Taiwan Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (ADTA).

KMT Legislator Chang Chia-Chun also highlighted the importance of the ADTA, in addition to cybersecurity, and AI issues. She expressed hope for deeper trade cooperation between Taiwan and the U.S. and mentioned her hometown, Yunlin, as a place with thriving agriculture and a great place to invest due to the presence of an abundance of water resources. She invited the delegation to visit Yunlin on their next trip to Taiwan.

The discussion then covered Taiwan's semiconductor industry policies, AI applications and regulations, educational exchanges and cooperation, information technology and security policies, bilateral economic and trade cooperation, and Taiwan's military defense. The delegation unanimously recognized Taiwan's commitment to democratic principles and its continued achievements. The meeting lasted approximately 90 minutes and concluded on a friendly and pleasant note, with both sides exchanging gifts and taking a group photo.

List of Visitors

1. USTBC Chairman Keith Krach
2. USTBC President Rupert Hammond-Chambers