Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and President-elect William Lai Ching-te expressed gratitude for the United States' support during a meeting with a US delegation. The delegation, led by former National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley and former Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg, arrived in Taiwan following Lai's historic third-term victory for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Despite Beijing's displeasure at international congratulations for Taiwan's election, President Tsai and President-elect Lai welcomed the US delegation. Beijing, which asserts sovereignty over Taiwan and has not ruled out military action, had labeled Lai as a "separatist" and framed the election as a choice between "peace and war."

Lai, who secured 40.1% of the vote compared to his closest rival Hou Yu-ih of the Kuomintang party with 33.5%, emphasized the significance of freedom and democracy during the meeting. He highlighted these values as crucial assets for the Taiwanese people and common principles uniting Taiwan and the United States. Lai described them as the foundation for long-term stability in the Taiwan-US partnership.

Addressing the US delegation at the DPP headquarters, Lai expressed that their visit was meaningful, showcasing the robust partnership between Taiwan and the United States.

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