36 US Representatives Have Visited Taiwan 至今已36議員訪台 總統感謝美對台軍售

President Tsai Ing-wen received a U.S. congressional delegation led by Representative John Curtis on Dec. 20. So far this year, 36 U.S. representatives have visited Taiwan.

John Curtis, US Representative: “Thank you for welcoming our delegation. We are very honored to have this opportunity today to meet.”

U.S. Representative John Curtis greeted attendees in fluent Mandarin. Curtis served as a missionary in Taiwan during his younger years. He is one of the proponents of the TAIPEI Act, and is currently visiting Taiwan along with three other Taiwan-friendly representatives, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Burgess Owens, and Michelle Steel.

John Curtis, US Representative: “And we bring you a message that I hope you already know, that the prosperity of Taiwan is a bipartisan, bicameral issue important to all of us.”

Tsai Ing-wen, President: “2022 was a bumper harvest year for the U.S.-Taiwan relationship. We look forward to working hard with every single one of you in 2023 to continue upgrading the U.S.-Taiwan relationship.”

President Tsai Ing-wen thanked the Biden administration for continuing to sell arms to Taiwan. Curtis is the chair of the House of Representatives' Conservative Climate Caucus, so he broached the subject of climate change during his visit. So far in 2022, 36 U.S. representatives have traveled to Taiwan. Meanwhile, Europe is also showing support for Taiwan.

Anna-Michelle Asimakopoulou, Vice Chair, INTA, European Parliament: “The EU continues to maintain its one-China policy position, but believes that the status quo in the Straits cannot be changed unilaterally. It opposes the use or threat of force or economic coercion against Taiwan from China.”

Tsai received seven European Parliament members that are visiting Taiwan. The delegation is led by Anna-Michelle Asimakopoulou, who said the European Parliament has passed numerous resolutions supporting the meaningful participation of Taiwan in international organizations and the right of the Taiwanese people to determine their own way of life and opposing unilateral military actions that change the status quo.

美國眾議員匡希恆說：「感謝你歡迎我們的代表團，今天非常地榮幸有這個機會見面。」

以流利的中文打招呼，美國眾議員匡希恆年輕時曾在台傳教，與台灣淵源頗深，更是台北法案的重要推手，這次與另外3位友台眾議員米克絲、歐文斯及朴銀珠共同訪台，要展現美國國會對台灣的支持。

美國眾議員匡希恆表示：「我要傳達一個訊息希望你們已經知道，台灣的繁榮是我們跨黨派、跨院的支持，這對我們所有人來說都非常的重要。」

總統蔡英文則指出：「2022年是台美關係豐收的一年，迎接2023年期盼跟各位一起努力，推動台美關係持續升級。」

總統蔡英文感謝拜登政府持續對台軍售，匡希恆是國會保守派氣候連線主席，訪台也關注氣候變遷議題，截至目前2022年已經有36位美國國會議員接連來訪，另外歐洲挺台力道也是逐漸增加。

歐洲議會國貿委員會副主席阿西馬柯波蘿說明：「歐盟秉持一中政策的立場，但相信兩岸現狀是不該被單方面改變的，也反對中國以武力來改變現狀，即任何經濟上的脅迫台灣的行為。」

總統蔡英文接見7位歐洲議會跨黨派成員，率團的阿西馬柯波蘿重申，歐洲議會已多數通過的決議案，支持台灣有意義地參與世界組織，台灣人民有權決定自己想要的生活方式，反對單方面武力改變現狀。