TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Vice President and President-elect Lai Ching-te and Vice President-elect Hsiao Bi-khim met with U.S. Representative Jack Bergman at the Presidential Office on Thursday (March 28), hoping for Taiwan-U.S. cooperation to stabilize the Taiwan Strait.
Before their inauguration on May 20, Lai and Hsiao received a bipartisan delegation led by Bergman, Chairman of the Intelligence and Special Operations Subcommittee of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee. The delegation included Representatives Don Norcross and Jimmy Panetta, who expressed support for Taiwan's national security and international participation.
Lai noted that this year marks the 45th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, a law that has played a significant role in the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region and the security of Taiwan.
In 2024, U.S. President Joe Biden signed into law a $1.2 trillion spending package, which includes $300 million in foreign military financing to Taiwan. Additionally, the package provides funding for cooperative projects between Taipei and Washington, marking a significant contribution to Taiwan's national security and promoting peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
Bergman stated that Taiwan is a key partner of the United States in the Indo-Pacific region and reiterated his hope for Taiwan to have a robust maritime strategy to resist China's aggressive actions in the region.