On January 29, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York and the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FRPI) hosted an hour-long virtual event titled “US-Taiwan Relations under Biden Administration: BTA, COVID and Beyond” with Ambassador Bi-khim Hsiao, Taiwan’s representative to the U.S. Ambassador Hsiao discussed Taiwan’s expectations and goals for the U.S.-Taiwan relationship under the Biden administration. The event was moderated by Jacques deLisle, Director of FRPI’s Asia Program.
DeLisle first raised the topic of the economic relationship between the U.S. and Taiwan, as Taiwan is currently America’s 9th largest trading partner and an important provider in global supply chains. The two countries currently do not have a bilateral trade agreement (BTA), but President Tsai Ing-wen’s easing of restrictions on American pork imports was seen as a key breakthrough in removing obstacles, paving way for future negotiations. Ambassador Hsiao stated that further economic linkage “is certainly one of the top priorities of my agenda here in Washington D.C., in addition to the very important security and defense relationship that we have,” and mentioned that a potential BTA holds both economic and strategic significance as a mutually beneficial opportunity, given the highly complementary nature of both sides’ economies.
Even though the Biden administration has said that it will hold off on broad trade agreements in its initial phase, Hsiao said, “we should not waste any time in terms of making preparations and laying the ground work down.” There are many areas where Taiwan and the U.S. can cooperate, such as semiconductors, the automotive industry, 5G, and supply chain security. Moreover, Hsiao described American support for deepening trade relations with Taiwan as “truly bipartisan,” a theme she would return to throughout the discussion.
DeLisle and Hsiao also discussed broader coalition building in the Indo-Pacific. For example, while there is not yet much clarity on U.S. policy towards the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, Hsiao indicated that Taiwan does seek to join the trading block and is in consultation with various member economies to build support for Taiwan’s participation. More generally, she noted the importance of U.S. leadership in the region, and Taiwan hopes that “building some momentum on bilateral trade with the United States would also serve as an engine for encouraging other countries in the region to also engage in trade discussions with Taiwan.”
Following these specific issues, Hsiao also discussed Taiwan’s perspectives on the new administration. In response to a question on whether the positive trends in the relationship will continue, Hsiao noted three key factors for continued optimism: confidence in Tsai’s balanced approach, changing global circumstances, and Taiwan’s recent successes, which demonstrated the strength of its democracy and its ability to combat Covid-19. Hsiao also responded to a question involving Taiwanese opinions of former President Trump and some citizens’ concerns surrounding a new administration. Hsiao noted that “as a government, we never take a position on domestic U.S. politics,” adding that Taiwan does have an important stake in the resilience of American democracy. She continued to emphasize the theme of bipartisan American support and thought the relationship was off to a good start, mentioning welcoming statements from Biden’s team and her own invitation to the inauguration as evidence in this regard.
China was also referenced, both as a threat and as a factor bringing Taiwan, the U.S., and other allies together. Hsiao appreciated the recent State Department statement following Chinese air incursions, and mentioned that provocations extend to cyberspace, disinformation, and psychological warfare, too. Responding to deLisle’s question on recent developments in Hong Kong, Hsiao said that it has strengthened the resolve of the Taiwanese people to defend their democracy, stating that “we do not want to be another Hong Kong; we are not Hong Kong.” Taiwan’s security partnership with the U.S., including arms sales, training, and cooperation, will continue to take on great importance in the years ahead.
Hsiao stressed that the interests of Taiwan and the US are very much aligned. Taiwan’s primary objective is to ensure its “survival as a democracy, and [its] right to determine [its] future through democratic and peaceful means.” The objective of the U.S., she said, is regional stability and credibility toward its regional allies. She also pointed out that China’s coercive gestures, which have been aimed at Taiwan for decades, are now being applied to other countries as well. As more countries in the region come to realize the complexity of such coercive efforts, she believed that there will continue to be greater room for dialogue and cooperation.
Finally, deLisle and Hsiao discussed Taiwan’s exclusion from the international sphere. DeLisle noted that Taiwan’s success in combating Covid-19 makes its exclusion from the World Health Organization “all the more striking.” Hsiao agreed, mentioning that Taiwan could have helped in the early stages if Taiwan had a meaningful role in the organization, but also pointed to recent American decisions like the TAIPEI Act as encouraging for Taiwan’s international participation. In the future, Taiwan hopes to work closely with the U.S. to broaden partnerships around the world.
A few additional questions, including those from the audience, focused on other relevant themes, such as climate change, renewable energy, and social welfare. The event began with a brief introduction by Carol Rollie Flynn, President of FRPI.