U.S. Congressional Taiwan Caucus Delegation Visits Ko Wen-je, Impressed by the Rise of the Taiwan People's Party as a 'Key Force'

Chairman Ko met with the U.S. Congressional Taiwan Caucus delegation this morning, led by the bipartisan co-chairs, Republican Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart and Democratic Congressman Ami Bera. TPP Secretary-General Tom Chou also attended the meeting. Ko had previously met Diaz-Balart during his visit to the U.S. last year, while both chairs were impressed by the rise of TPP in the recent election.

Republican Diaz-Balart remarked that the Taiwan Caucus is one of the largest bipartisan groups in the U.S. Congress, with four co-chairs. Their visit to Taiwan right after the elections demonstrates the bipartisan support of the U.S. Congress for Taiwan's democracy. Democrat Bera, sharing his background as a physician, resonated with Ko's educational and professional journey and looked forward to engaging with Taiwanese political and parliamentary members to ensure U.S.-Taiwan congressional cooperation in maintaining Taiwan's self-defense capabilities and working together to preserve the status quo. Both congressmen agreed that TPP becoming a critical minority in Taiwan's Legislative branch establishes itself as an unignorable force in Taiwan's political landscape, and they look forward to continuing communications.

Ko, in his opening remarks, thanked Diaz-Balart for the warm reception during his visit to Capitol Hill last April. He emphasized that since his visit to the U.S., he has realized the importance of viewing Taiwan from a global perspective, rather than solely from Taiwan's viewpoint. He mentioned that the Taiwan issue must be considered within the framework of U.S.-China relations to find a suitable position for Taiwan's survival.

Ko also noted that the current Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government has been in a stalemate with the Chinese government, and while there has been no significant threat from China following Lai Ching-te's election, Beijing's potential actions following Lai's inauguration speech on May 20 should be closely monitored. The results of the upcoming U.S. elections might also influence China's attitude towards Taiwan.

Regarding cross-strait relations, Ko stated that China's attitude towards Taiwan hasn't changed over the past 70 years; the difference lies in China's growing national strength. He urged not to view Xi Jinping's China as permanent and to believe in the possibility of democratic reforms in China. Given the current cross-strait situation, Ko reiterated the dual approach of 'deterrence' and 'communication.' He believes Taiwan should develop sufficient self-defense capabilities, advocating for defense spending to reach 3% of the GDP. Bera, a former chair of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee's Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, agreed with this approach. The meeting concluded after an hour of discussion, with the exchange of gifts and Ko expressing hopes for a deeper exchange in Washington D.C. in the future.