Discussing 47th Anniversary of Taiwan Relations Act, David Lee: Taiwan-US Relations Far Better Than Before

Former Foreign Minister David Lee today shared his views on Taiwan's geopolitical challenges and hedging strategies at the Hoover Institution, as the US Taiwan Relations Act approaches its 47th anniversary. He stated that President Lai Ching-te's policies towards the US and China have been consistent and pragmatic over the past nearly two years, without any unexpected shifts. However, Taiwan faces challenges due to intensified political polarization and identity divisions. Attendees expressed concern about Taiwan's special defense budget, asking why the Executive Yuan's version was stalled by the opposition and how it could be passed smoothly. Lee believed that a compromise would eventually be reached, and the opinions of foreign politicians and scholars would also have a certain influence. He was confident that it would pass with a compromise solution, which might not be the strongest version but could be larger than the KMT's current proposal. He also pointed out that the central government's general budget for this year remains stalled, which is dangerous. The first step in a hedging strategy should be to strengthen credible deterrence, including expanding asymmetric warfare capabilities and increasing expenditures related to national defense, national security, and resilience. However, given the current situation, this strategy is being weakened or even deviated from. Regarding KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wen leading a delegation to China today, expected to hold a 'Cheng-Xi meeting' with CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping, Lee Da-wei said it is certain that Xi Jinping will not make any concessions on core sovereignty issues. Regarding the US intelligence assessment that China does not plan to attack Taiwan in 2027, Lee Da-wei said his personal interpretation is that Xi Jinping still prefers peaceful unification, and the use of force would be the last resort because the cost of a military operation is extremely high. He also pointed out that there are different views within Taiwanese society on how to handle relations with China, which is an identity division. About 70%, or even more, of the Taiwanese people tend to maintain the status quo and continue to enjoy a democratic and free way of life. He believes that since 1949, Taiwan has consistently adopted a 'buy time' strategy, and this direction should continue in the future. Speaking of the transformation of Taiwan-US relations, Lee Da-wei pointed out that Taiwan-US relations are very different from 47 years ago. He recalled that at that time, the US Congress still had many concerns about Taiwan's human rights situation and the promotion of political democratization. Now the situation has significantly improved, and the US Congress's support for Taiwan's security and well-being has formed a bipartisan consensus. (Editor: Hsieh Yi-hsuan)1150407