Taiwan leader confident of US trade deal

Washington unveiled plans for formal trade talks with Taiwan in a show of support as China was staging huge military drills last month.

Taiwan lives under constant threat of an invasion by China, which claims the democratically ruled island as part of its territory to be seized one day — by force if necessary.

Beijing lashes out at any diplomatic action that seems to treat Taiwan as a sovereign nation, and has reacted with growing anger to visits by Western politicians.

Last month's drills were in protest at US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.

While meeting the bipartisan US delegation, President Tsai Ing-wen pledged to work with Washington to promote closer trade ties.

"We are confident that through this initiative, we can sign a high-standard trade agreement and advance bilateral trade development," she said.

Representative Stephanie Murphy, a Democrat from Florida, urged Congress to "deepen economic relationship with Taiwan, in particular by pushing for a high quality Free Trade Agreement between the US and Taiwan".

China's unprecedented drills triggered widespread support in the United States for solidarity with Taiwan, which already has rare bipartisan support on Capitol Hill.

So far this year 28 members of Congress have travelled to Taiwan, the highest number since at least 2013, according to data from Bloomberg News. 

Last week the US announced a US$1.1 billion (S$1.55 billion) arms package for Taiwan, vowing to keep boosting the island's defenses.

Many European powers have also grown more vocal in support of Taiwan in recent years, while Russia invading Ukraine has deepened fears China might do the same to its neighbour.

A group of French lawmakers landed in Taiwan on Wednesday, the first high-level European delegation since the recent Chinese drills. 

"We consider Taiwan as a partner for stability in the (Indo-Pacific) region," said Senator Cyril Pellevat, who led the delegation.

Beijing has adopted an increasingly bellicose approach to Taiwan under President Xi Jinping, China's most authoritarian leader in a generation.

Mr Xi, who is on the cusp of securing an unprecedented third term, has hitched Taiwan's fate to his landmark "great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation" policy.

Ms Tsai remained defiant, saying "Taiwan will not bow to pressure or coercion".

"We will defend our democratic institutions and way of life. Taiwan will not back down," she told the US delegation. AFP