President Awards U.S. Representative McCaul, Eyes Joint Defense Production with U.S.

President Lai Ching-te presented U.S. Representative Michael McCaul with the Grand Cordon of the Order of Brilliant Star, recognizing his significant efforts in strengthening Taiwan-U.S. relations and maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

During the ceremony, President Lai emphasized Taiwan's dedication to ongoing defense reforms, bolstering societal resilience, and deepening cooperation with the United States across defense, economic, and technological sectors. He specifically highlighted the aspiration to move beyond military procurement towards joint research and production initiatives with the U.S. to collectively safeguard regional peace.

Lai described McCaul as an influential political leader in the U.S. Congress, commending his consistent pursuit of peace, strong support for democratic partners, and courageous stance against the expansion of authoritarianism. He recalled McCaul's declaration of "We love Taiwan" during his visit with the first U.S. Congressional delegation after Lai's inauguration, an expression that deeply resonated with the Taiwanese people.

The President underscored the shared democratic values between Taiwan and the U.S. and their mutual commitment to regional stability. He affirmed Taiwan's role as a guardian of the democratic frontier against rising authoritarianism, stressing that peace is built on strength and a firm resolve for self-defense.

Lai specifically thanked McCaul for his consistent support in enhancing Taiwan's defense capabilities, including urging the U.S. administration to expedite arms sales and backing defense budgets. He noted the expanding partnership between Taiwan and the U.S. into economic and technological fields, with Texas, McCaul's home state, being a significant hub for energy and technology industries. The President expressed Taiwan's eagerness to further strengthen its relationship with the U.S. to collectively protect peace and foster prosperity.

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We love Taiwan