Hsiao Bi-khim (Hsiao, Vice President of Taiwan)

As I said in the outset, Taiwan-U.S.

economies are very important to each other.

This partnership has enabled Taiwan to grow in strength.

It has also allowed Taiwanese companies to support growth and profit in the United States.

It's an ecosystem that benefits both of our societies.

So, we are hoping to reach an arrangement with the current administration on a significant reduction of tariffs and other non-tariff barriers, as well as supporting some new investment projects, such as in the area of semiconductor chips, but also in energy and acquisitions.

So, we are in the process of trying to work that out and hope that we will have some

a good arrangement that provides a win-win situation.

We understand how many Americans are pursuing a greatness in reindustrialization and in AI.

And we in Taiwan want to be strong as well.

And it's important that Taiwan is a strong nation.

So I think that is ultimately a goal that works for both of our societies on the economic and trade front.

In terms of the European situation, like many countries around the world, the Ukrainian government has been rather cautious about any interactions with Taiwan.

But the Taiwanese people in general have been sympathetic to the victims of invasion and war, and that's why we have provided

humanitarian aid and support from a humanitarian perspective.

We've had medical teams and other NGOs expressing our sympathies.

But at the same time, I think the conflict there teaches us many lessons.

First of all, it is a wake-up call to many people here that as much as we love and want to protect peace, we cannot take peace for granted.

And we have to do more to prevent that type of conflict from happening in our part of the world and on our island.

And so we do need to invest more in our defenses.