“I appreciate the warm welcome to Taiwan from Douglas Hsu, Taiwan Director of North American Affairs,” the governor posted on Twitter, along with a photo of him and Hsu.
Holcomb and a delegation that includes Indiana’s commerce secretary are in the Taiwanese capital of Taipei to kick off an “economic development trip” in Taiwan and South Korea, following the signing of the federal CHIPS Act and the recent announcement that Taiwan-based semiconductor company MediaTek will open a design center in Indiana, his office said in a statement.
Holcomb will meet with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Monday morning Taipei time, Taiwan’s presidential office spokesperson Chang Tun-Han said. Holcomb and Tsai will discuss “economic, trade, technological and cultural collaborations,” the spokesperson added.
Holcomb’s trip follows a visit to Taiwan earlier this month by Nancy Pelosi, who became the first US House speaker in 25 years to visit the island at a time when Washington-Beijing relations have been particularly tense. Her visit upset China, which responded by launching extensive military drills around Taiwan and suspending key diplomatic communications with the US.
Last Sunday, a second US bipartisan congressional delegation, led by Democratic Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, visited Taipei in an effort to “reaffirm the United States’ support for Taiwan” and “encourage stability and peace across the Taiwan Strait.”
China’s ruling Chinese Communist Party sees Taiwan as part of its…
