Taiwanese foreign minister to visit Arizona to deepen economic ties

Taiwan's foreign minister, Lin Chia-lung, is scheduled to visit Arizona to enhance economic ties and cooperation with the U.S. The trip, which begins on Saturday evening in Phoenix, follows Lin's meetings in Belize and Guatemala. He will attend the inauguration of Taiwan's new representative office in the city, engage with state and municipal officials, and tour the Texas Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. facility.

The objective of the visit is to bolster support for Taiwanese firms investing in the U.S., foster industrial clusters through collaborations with the U.S. government and academic institutions, and entice more Taiwanese semiconductor companies to establish operations within the United States. This comes in the wake of President Donald Trump's recent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington, where they agreed to maintain a trade truce until early 2027.

During this summit, Xi urged the U.S. to "oppose" Taiwan independence, marking a shift in Washington's long-standing policy towards the self-governing island. Despite China's claim to the territory and its threat to annex it by force if necessary, Taiwan maintains its claim to independence. The U.S. officially recognizes Beijing but maintains unofficial relations with Taiwan, acting as its primary security ally.