Taipei Taiwan, August 22 : Taiwan’s president Tsai Ing-wen received on Monday an additional delegation from the US amid growing tensions with China.Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb arrived in Taipei on Sunday night to begin an eight-day trip, according to the news agency dpa.
After his arrival he made the following statement in the form of a tweet: “I landed in Taipei to begin an economic development tour in Taiwan as well as South Korea.Indiana is the home of 10 Taiwanese and 12 South Korean businesses.This week is my second visit to South Korea as Governor and I’m proud to be the first governor to visit Taiwan prior to the pandemic.”
His visit follows recent trips made by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and top Democrat Ed Markey drew ire from Beijing which has a policy of denying official relations with Taipei and the rest of China.
Beijing began massive military maneuvers in the vicinity of Taiwan in the wake of Pelosi’s visit on August 2.
Tsai stated in a meeting in the presidential office with Holcomb that the US and Taiwan are crucial allies in terms of security and economic in the Indo-Pacific region.
“Taiwan has been afflicted by threats from the military of China, in and around the Taiwan Strait.In this moment, the democratic allies should unite and strengthen cooperation across all sectors,” Tsai told the Indiana Governor.
She also stated that Taiwan is keen to increase collaboration to create sustainable supply chains.
Holcomb signed an agreement of agreement with Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs to facilitate trade, commerce, and collaboration in science.
He said to Tsai that Indiana will continue to pursue strategic alliances with Taiwan and added that he was thrilled about the possibility of new collaborations with Taiwan.
Holcomb is scheduled to meet with other top government officials as well as representatives from the semiconductor industry according to Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Taiwan has been governed by an autonomous government since 1949 however China regards the island as to be part of the territory of China.
