Panetta Meets New Taiwan President

U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) was a part of a bipartisan Congressional delegation that visited Taiwan to meet the newly inaugurated president, who took office May 20.

They met Taiwanese authorities to discuss regional security, trade, and investment to explore new areas of collaboration between the United States and Taiwan.

The bipartisan delegation was led by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, and included Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific Chairwoman Young Kim (R-CA), Subcommittee on Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia Chairman Joe Wilson (R-SC), House Armed Services member Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), and Congressional Taiwan Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY).

The new president, Lai Ching-te, 64, who takes over from Tsai Ing-wen, who led Taiwan for eight years, has vowed to deepen cooperation between Taiwan and the United States.

The bipartisan delegation met with members of the Legislative Yun, diplomatic and defense officials, and leaders from the semiconductor industry.

Prior to the visit, the Chinese Communist Party warned against congressional delegations visiting Taiwan and conducted demonstrative military drills in the Taiwan Strait.

Panetta and a bipartisan coalition in Congress recently passed into law critical security aid for America’s democratic allies, including $8 billion to bolster defense capabilities for Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific region.

Panetta co-leads the bipartisan Taiwan Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act which would authorize the President to lend or lease defense supplies to the Government of Taiwan, in the case of preemptive aggression by the CCP.

“I was honored to be invited by Chairman McCaul and a part of this select bipartisan delegation of congressional members that traveled to Taiwan to congratulate the newly inaugurated President Lai and ensure him of the United States Congress’ commitment to Taiwan’s continued peace and prosperity,” said Panetta. “At a time when autocracies are on the move, democracies around the world must stand together in defense of our shared values and freedoms. Together, our bipartisan delegation made it clear that the United States is undeterred by the CCP’s threats and will stand firm to safeguard Taiwan’s security.”

McCaul, a Texas Republican, said, “As Putin wages war in Ukraine and Israel fights a multi-front war against Iran-backed proxies like Hamas, Chairman Xi is watching to see if America continues to support its partners and friends.

Taiwan is a thriving democracy. The U.S. will continue to stand by our steadfast partner and work to maintain the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. I look forward to meeting with Taiwan officials to better understand what America can do to preserve peace in Asia and build upon our shared democratic values.”