Vice President: Building Consensus on Maintaining Peace through Strength, Protecting Democracy and Freedom
Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim met with the VFW Commander-in-Chief, emphasizing Taiwan's commitment to strengthening defense through a special bill to ensure 'peace through strength' and highlighting enduring US-Taiwan mutual support.
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- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 23:57
- 🔍 Collected: April 24, 2026 at 00:31 (34 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 24, 2026 at 01:20 (48 min after Collected)
(Central News Agency, Reporter Wen Kuei-hsiang, Taipei, 23rd) Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim stated today that the government attaches great importance to strengthening national defense and, by proposing a special defense budget bill, hopes to gradually build consensus on "peace through strength" so that Taiwan can protect its hard-won democracy and maintain its free and democratic way of life.
According to a press release issued by the Presidential Office in the evening, Vice President Hsiao met with Carol Whitmore, Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) of the United States, in the afternoon.
In her remarks, Vice President Hsiao first welcomed the delegation to Taiwan on behalf of President Lai Ching-te, the Taiwanese government, and its people. She expressed her pleasure that the Veterans Affairs Council has established a long-term and solid relationship with the VFW. She believes that through exchanges and mutual visits, Taiwan can learn more about properly caring for veterans and continue to improve in the future.
The Vice President said that veterans are an indispensable part of society, and properly caring for them is a concrete manifestation of the country's support for its national defense. The VFW is committed to shared values, namely protecting the free and democratic way of life and the people's right to independently determine the country's future.
She stated that Taiwan holds the same philosophy. President Lai attaches great importance to strengthening national defense to ensure that under the current complex geopolitical situation, Taiwan can protect its freedom, democracy, and existing way of life, while simultaneously maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region through deterrence.
The Vice President mentioned that Taiwan has put in a lot of effort to achieve democracy and is determined to protect and defend this achievement. In addition to proposing the annual defense budget, President Lai has also proposed a special defense bill, which is currently being pushed forward through the legislative process. All parties are gradually building a consensus on "peace through strength," which she believes is also a philosophy adhered to by the visiting guests.
Reflecting on her past tenure as Taiwan's representative to the U.S., the Vice President noted she had multiple opportunities to interact with the VFW, which left a deep impression on her. She mentioned that when she arrived in the U.S. in 2020 during the most severe period of the COVID-19 pandemic, a time filled with uncertainty and anxiety, Taiwan donated epidemic prevention supplies to the VFW and other U.S. veterans' organizations; Taiwan is also deeply grateful to the U.S. for subsequently donating vaccines during Taiwan's severe outbreak, demonstrating goodwill and support. It is exactly this spirit of mutual support during difficult times that allows us to stand together, proving that unity and cooperation make each other stronger, and this is also the core spirit of the delegation's exchange on this trip. (Editor: Su Long-chi) 1150423
According to a press release issued by the Presidential Office in the evening, Vice President Hsiao met with Carol Whitmore, Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) of the United States, in the afternoon.
In her remarks, Vice President Hsiao first welcomed the delegation to Taiwan on behalf of President Lai Ching-te, the Taiwanese government, and its people. She expressed her pleasure that the Veterans Affairs Council has established a long-term and solid relationship with the VFW. She believes that through exchanges and mutual visits, Taiwan can learn more about properly caring for veterans and continue to improve in the future.
The Vice President said that veterans are an indispensable part of society, and properly caring for them is a concrete manifestation of the country's support for its national defense. The VFW is committed to shared values, namely protecting the free and democratic way of life and the people's right to independently determine the country's future.
She stated that Taiwan holds the same philosophy. President Lai attaches great importance to strengthening national defense to ensure that under the current complex geopolitical situation, Taiwan can protect its freedom, democracy, and existing way of life, while simultaneously maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region through deterrence.
The Vice President mentioned that Taiwan has put in a lot of effort to achieve democracy and is determined to protect and defend this achievement. In addition to proposing the annual defense budget, President Lai has also proposed a special defense bill, which is currently being pushed forward through the legislative process. All parties are gradually building a consensus on "peace through strength," which she believes is also a philosophy adhered to by the visiting guests.
Reflecting on her past tenure as Taiwan's representative to the U.S., the Vice President noted she had multiple opportunities to interact with the VFW, which left a deep impression on her. She mentioned that when she arrived in the U.S. in 2020 during the most severe period of the COVID-19 pandemic, a time filled with uncertainty and anxiety, Taiwan donated epidemic prevention supplies to the VFW and other U.S. veterans' organizations; Taiwan is also deeply grateful to the U.S. for subsequently donating vaccines during Taiwan's severe outbreak, demonstrating goodwill and support. It is exactly this spirit of mutual support during difficult times that allows us to stand together, proving that unity and cooperation make each other stronger, and this is also the core spirit of the delegation's exchange on this trip. (Editor: Su Long-chi) 1150423