Congressman Honda Meets Privately with Taiwanese President Ma

Statement

Last week, Congressman Mike Honda (D-Silicon Valley) met privately with Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou to discuss issues of importance to Silicon Valley, Taiwan, and Taiwanese-Americans. During the meeting, the two discussed strengthening economic connections between Taiwan and the United States, trade, intellectual property rights, and international investment.

"I was honored to meet privately with President Ma. For over half a century, Taiwan has been a strong, democratic ally of the United States. Our peoples have enjoyed a close friendship forged by our political, economic, cultural, and strategic ties," said Congressman Honda. "As Chair Emeritus of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I know firsthand the importance this partnership is for our Taiwanese-American communities. As a representative of ethnically diverse Silicon Valley, I am proud of the contributions Taiwanese-Americans have made to the technology industry, and I join them in celebrating the growing, collaborative economic relationship between the United States and Taiwanese companies. I look forward to continuing to work with President Ma to strengthen our U.S.-Taiwan partnership and ensure peace and prosperity for our peoples, the region, and the world."

On Thurs., July 16th, Congressman Honda delivered remarks at a dinner honoring President Ma. He then attended a breakfast with President Ma on Fri., July 17th before having the private meeting with him. Taiwan Minister of Foreign Affairs David Lin and Taiwan Representative to the United States Shen Lyu-shun were also in attendance at the dinner and breakfast.

Congressman Honda has championed calling on Japanese Prime Minister Abe to issue a formal apology to the so-called comfort women of World War II, many of whom were from Taiwan. The comfort women were taken from their families and forced into lives of sexual slavery.

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