(Washington Insider Magazine)-TAIPEI, Taiwan (Transatlantic Today) — Following two recent high profile trips by U.S. politicians that garnered China’s fury and Chinese military exercises that included launching missiles over the island, Indiana’s Republican governor met with Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen on Monday morning.
According to a release from his office, Governor Eric Holcomb landed in Taiwan on Sunday evening for a 4-day visit that will be centered on economic interchange, particularly semiconductors.
After House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan earlier this month, his visit comes at a difficult time for Taiwan, China, and the United States, according to ABC NEWS. Exchanges with other governments are seen as an interference on China’s claims to Taiwan, which it governs on its own.
Prior to their meeting on Monday morning, Tsai highlighted the tensions and invited further talks.
The Chinese military conducted three days of drills in response to Pelosi’s visit, which included planes flying toward the island and destroyers crossing the middle of the Taiwan Strait, an informal border separating the mainland from the island.
Several Taiwanese political personalities were also subject to visa restrictions and other sanctions by China, though it is unknown what impact these measures will have.
Holcomb underlined the economic significance of his visit, noting that the state was home to 10 Taiwanese corporations and was one of the top states in the US for direct foreign investment. He stated, “We both seek to deepen and enhance our already excellent cooperation that we have established over the years.
Additionally, Holcomb will meet with members of the semiconductor sector, and it is anticipated that he would encourage Indiana and Taiwan to work together on innovation and academic projects. As part of the exchange, the delegation will visit National Cheng Kung University and National Yang-Ming University.
Along with him on the trip are representatives from the state’s economic development council and the dean of engineering at Purdue University, which just launched a degree programme in semiconductors. Next, he’ll travel to South Korea.
