Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen was the guest of a forum on Aug. 12 jointly sponsored by the Republican Hudson Institute and the Democratic Center for American Progress, no doubt to show the “bipartisan” support for the Taiwanese leader. This was one day after the visit to Taiwan of HHS Secretary Alex Azar—including a meeting with Tsai—the first major breach of the agreement signed between the U.S. and China with regard to “no official relations” with Taiwan.
Tsai said that Taiwan and Hong Kong were the only Chinese entities that appreciated democracy and she praised the international community for condemning the new National Security Law in Hong Kong. She stated that Taiwan had set up an office to help Hong Kongers who flee the island after the legislation. “Taiwan is on the front lines of democracy,” Tsai said, and calling Taiwan “the antithesis to the P.R.C.” While she said that Taiwan would always “acknowledge the ties between the straits,” Taiwan would also “take stock” of the relationship. She also said that Taiwan would “back up words with action,” and pointing to the increase in the defense budget. Taiwan would develop an “asymmetric capability” that would be more capable, Tsai said.
