- Title: Taiwan says it's an asset, not a burden for the new Trump administration
- Date: 10th November 2016
- Summary: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (NOVEMBER 10, 2016) (REUTERS) LAWMAKING SESSION IN PROGRESS TAIWAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER DAVID LEE WALKING TO PODIUM OFFICIALS SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) TAIWAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER, DAVID LEE, SAYING: "Regarding Trump's new government in the United States, we are very confident and we are very much looking forward to continue discussions on our bilateral cooperative relationship with the new president and his team." OFFICIALS SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) TAIWAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER, DAVID LEE, SAYING: "We will keep emphasizing that Taiwan is an important asset for the United States. We are definitely not a burden for the United States. Strengthening the relationship between Taiwan and the United States is helpful to the whole strategy of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region. (Taiwan) is a crucial asset." CAMERAMEN FILMING LAWMAKING SESSION IN PROGRESS
- Embargoed: 25th November 2016 06:11
- Keywords: US election president Trump Taiwan
- Location: TAIPEI, TAIWAN
- City: TAIPEI, TAIWAN
- Country: Taiwan
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00157V20XZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Taiwan's Foreign Minister David Lee said he was hopeful for bilateral relations with the new U.S. government led by President-elect Donald Trump and that the country would be an asset, not a burden, during a lawmaking session on Thursday (November 10).
Trump stunned the world by defeating heavily favoured Hillary Clinton in the race for the White House, ending eight years of Democratic rule and sending the United States on a new, uncertain path.
"We will keep emphasizing that Taiwan is an important asset for the United States. We are definitely not a burden for the United States. Strengthening the relationship between Taiwan and the United States is helpful to the whole strategy of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region. (Taiwan) is a crucial asset," Lee said.
President Barack Obama had made a defence and diplomatic pivot to Asia a key strategy of his government.
U.S. defense contractors, which saw international sales rise strongly under his administration, can expect a continued boom in arms exports under Trump, aided by persistent security risks in the Middle East and rising tensions in Asia and Europe.
In fiscal 2015, U.S. arms sales to foreign governments exceeded $47 billion, up 36 percent from around $34 billion a year earlier, according to the Department of Defense. Saudi Arabia, Australia, Iraq, Korea and Taiwan -- all considered U.S. allies -- were the top five recipients of U.S. weapons in the year ended September 2015. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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