Taiwan-US Relations

Experts Urge Taiwan To Consolidate US Congressional Support Now

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mExperts urged Taiwan to consolidate US congressional support following the Democrats' landslide victory in the midterm elections. Next year is set to see a restructuring of the Taiwan caucuses in both the House and Senate, which could have effects on the future of Taiwan-US policy making.

Taiwan-US Ties After Midterms

REPORTER:
At an academic forum in Taipei, experts weighed in on whether the Democrats' landslide victory in the US midterm elections would affect Taiwan-US relations.

Stanley Kao (FORMER TAIWAN REPRESENTATIVE TO THE US):  
I think this is a once-in-a-century shift in US politics.

Stanley Kao (FORMER TAIWAN REPRESENTATIVE TO THE US):  
How should we prepare for the new Congress?  
Taiwan should take stock of potential partners  
and consolidate their support.  
That is a key task for Taiwan.

Kao is referring to members of the Taiwan caucuses for both the House and Senate that help promote US-Taiwan relations. For the Senate, eight of the 30 caucus members are expected to step down next year, while the House one will lose 30.

However, attendees said that US investment and Taiwan-related policy were unlikely to change too much, citing bipartisan consensus on China and broad congressional support for Taiwan.

Analysts remain positive for the future of bilateral ties.

Roy Chun Lee (FORMER TAIWAN REPRESENTATIVE TO THE EU):  
I believe the current high level  
of [US-Taiwan] economic integration  
including growing trade and investment  
and increased talent mobility and tech cooperation  
is unlikely to see significant changes.

The new US Congress will be sworn in next January.