Taiwanese, US officials hold five-hour virtual economic dialogue

Supply chain resilience, science and technology, the digital economy and 5G were discussed in second annual meeting

Business advisory group to be established in bid to enhance economic and commercial ties between US and the self-ruled island

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The Taiwanese delegation led by economic affairs minister Wang Mei-hua (centre) during the virtual economic dialogue with the US. Photo: CNA

Published: 8:40pm, 23 Nov 2021

Representatives from Taiwan and the US held their second annual economic dialogue on Tuesday, aimed at forging closer ties in the face of increasing pressure from Beijing towards the self-ruled island.

Economic affairs minister Wang Mei-hua, who led the Taiwanese delegation, said the five-hour virtual meeting focused on such issues as supply chain resilience, science and technology, digital economy and 5G network security, as well as Beijing’s economic coercion.

“The talks are a great way for bilateral cooperation on economic strategies,” she told a press conference after the US-Taiwan Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue (EPPD).

Wang said the two sides agreed to promote supply chain security and cooperate on pharmaceuticals, health, clean energy and semiconductors amid a global chip crunch.

The meeting also discussed Beijing’s sanctions on Lithuania after the European country allowed Taiwan to open a representative office under its name in its capital. Wang said the US side supported Lithuania’s move and commended the European Union’s backing of the Baltic state.

The two sides agreed to hold their first in-person science and technology meeting, anticipated for next year in Taipei. They will also convene the fourth Digital Economy Forum in the middle of next year and establish a business advisory group to recommend ways to enhance economic and commercial ties between the two sides.

Like the inaugural EPPD held in November last year, this year’s meeting took place under the auspices of the American Institute in Taiwan, Washington’s de facto embassy in lieu of formal diplomatic ties with Taipei, and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US.