On the 7th day of Kuomintang’s (KMT) delegation visit to the U.S., Chairman Chu, KMT chairman, Vice Chairman Andrew Hsia and the delegation visited the United States House of Representatives, calling on many cross-party pro-Taiwan MP such as Representative of Ohio, including Steve Chabot, co-chair of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus; Don Bacon, a Representative from Nebraska; Ruben Gallego, a Representative from Arizona; Lisa McClain, a Representative from Michigan; and Michelle Steel, a Representative from California. Chairman Chu said that his visit did not have any partisan issue and was all about Taiwan’sforeign relations. It shows that Taiwan needs to cooperate with the United States on security and trade issues and needs to exchange opinions with members of the United States Congress.
In the afternoon Chairman Chiu and the members of the delegation visited five pro-Taiwan Representatives. Steve Chabot, co-chair of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus who has supported Taiwan over a quarter century, said that he supports Taiwan without distinction as to party affiliations and welcomes Kuomintang’s Chairman Chu’s visit. Chairman Chu mentioned that Mr. Chabot is familiar with many KMT’s leaders for a long time, and is a friend of KMT and Taiwan. The visit is not just about opening the KMT representative office in the United States, it also hopes that regardless of political affiliation, everyone can speak out for Taiwan and express Taiwan’s needs and initiative on diplomacy, national security, trade and technology issues.
Don Bacon, a Representative from Nebraska who retired from the U.S. air force as major general, committed to the U.S department of defense to research supporting ROC’s asymmetric weapon and budget, indicated that he is very interested in Taiwan’s missile defense strategy. He thinks that Taiwan needs a strong strategy and tactical preparation to deter China’s invasion. Mr. Bacon also appreciated KMT’s support of importing Nebraska products when KMT was in office. Chairman Chu assured that yesterday at the Brookings Institution’s speech he mentioned three improved national defense strategies, hoping that can expand training with the U.S. and allies to strengthen Taiwan’s self-defense.
Lisa McClain, a Representative from Michigan who had consigned many bills about Taiwan’s security, showed her welcome and introduced her pet “peanut” to the delegation. She said that because she’s from Michigan state, she was highly concerned about semiconductor industry’s development and interested in former legislator Hsu Yu-Jen’s “semiconductor effect on global geopolitics” research in Harvard Kennedy School, and said that strengthening economic relations is important to every country. In responding to Ms. McClain’s question about Taiwan’s national security issue, Chairman Chu mentioned many research and political predictions believed that in 5 to 10 years Taiwan Strait may face immediate conflict, Taiwan needs weapons that can easily get and use, needs to reform military service and reserve force training. Otherwise, it will be difficult to deter outside threats. Chairman Chu also mentioned that he hoped Taiwan and the U.S. could have joint training.
Ruben Gallego, a Representative from Arizona who comes from the Marines, welcomed the delegation with passion. Mr. Gallego said that TSMC has offices in Arizona, he knew that the semiconductor industry is an ecosystem, not just about investment and factories. Mr. Gallego mentioned that the Russian Army had to dig out chips from washing machines to supply the Army in the Russian-Ukraine war. He worried that the U.S. may face the chip shortage too. Chairman Chu refered that the KMT helped establish TSMC under the late president Chiang Ching-kuo. Chairman Chu also pointed out that Taiwan had already proposed an initiative of Asia high technology semiconductor standard, that should integrate Taiwan, South Korea, and other allies’ semiconductor industry to form a common standard to protect high technology supply chain’s safely.
Michelle Steel, a Representative from California who is also the first Korean American Representative in the U.S. said California had a strong Taiwan community and high-tech community, she also had some relatives who lived in Taiwan. Chairman Chu said he appreciated Ms. Steel’s contributions to California and the Asian community and hoped to have more opportunity to cooperate with Ms. Steel on different issues in the future.
