VOA Interview with Taiwan's Representative to the U.S. Robert Tsao: U.S.-Taiwan Ties Unchanged After the Trump-Xi Meeting, Will Win the "Superintelligence" Race Together

Voice of America (VOA) conducted an exclusive interview with Taiwan's Representative to the United States, Alexander Yui, to discuss in-depth issues such as U.S.-Taiwan relations following the Trump-Xi meeting, TSMC's investment in the U.S., U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, the right to narrate the history of the Flying Tigers, and Taiwan's democracy and freedom. Yui emphasized that U.S.-Taiwan relations remain unchanged, based on the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances. He noted that Taiwan plays a critical role in the semiconductor and AI supply chains and refuted Beijing's distortion of historical narratives.

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Welcome to VOA Today. We're joined by Taiwan's representative to the United States, Ambassador Alexander Yui. Ambassador Yui, it's a pleasure to have you with us.

Well, thank you, Daphne. Thank you for having me at VOA, Voice of America.

Just one week after the U.S.-China summit, we are seeing several new developments in U.S.-Taiwan relationship, including the F-16V, as well as developments in news in the United States. How do you view the impact of these latest developments on U.S.-Taiwan relations?

I mean, it's exactly what the U.S. administration has been saying all along, that the United States position on Taiwan remains unchanged, despite the, you know, several occasions where the leaders from the United States and people of the Republic of China have met, as one as recently as last week. But U.S.-Taiwan relations goes on as, you know, in a very productive way. The delivery of the first F-16V to Taiwan is part of the cooperation between Taiwan and the United States. So this is our cooperation, our cooperation in Taiwan. At the same time, Tsai Ing-wen...

Of course, we know there has been continued interest for your president, President William Lai has a transit stop in the United States. But with G20 and APEC coming up, probably another chance for the two leaders to have another summit. Is that possible for President Lai Ching-te to visit the States by the end of this year?

My President Lai Ching-te, it's a normal function for President to visit. It is in the U.S. regional area, in South America, in the West, there might be a stop in the United States, and this will be done according to previous planning. These will be related to our U.S. colleagues, if there is a planned itinerary, but that is Taipei's choice.

Did you have any discussions about meetings with U.S. officials or the Trump team?

President Lai, after the summit, did that call ever take place?

Well, again, the contacts between Taiwan and U.S. officials are closed, regular, and very open at different levels. I'll just leave it at that.

Okay. President Trump said that he and President Xi discussed Taiwan extensively in 11, but in this episode of the council, it seems there wasn't much time spent on Taiwan. What does that tell you about how Taiwan and Beijing manage their bilateral relations, and what would make them adjust their choices?

Obviously the Chinese did mention Taiwan, but there was little or no reaction from the U.S. side, which I think this is very clear. The United States, they have been mentioning there's no change in U.S. position on Taiwan. So the Chinese may want to do this and that, or try to change or persuade or sway U.S. opinions or policy on Taiwan. But the fact is the U.S.-Taiwan relations still based on the Taiwan Relations Act and the six assurances, and the relations between Taiwan and the United States is thriving on multiple levels and that hasn't changed. So again, US contact with people in the Republic of China, it's ongoing, it's good for peace and stability, they call it constructive strategic stability, which is good to reduce the misunderstandings, frictions, conflicts. But Taiwan issue shouldn't be discussion because that actually doesn't pertain to the U.S.-PRC relations. The Taiwan issue with the United States should be separate.

So you think that the communication should be separate?

Well, the fact is, again, People of the Republic of China tries to impose the one China principle on everyone. And the one China principle, as you know, is there's only one China in the world. The Chinese Communist Party is the only authority that can rule on China, and Taiwan is part of that China. That's the one China principle. But most countries including the United States has a one-China policy, and that one-China policy doesn't really relate, that includes Taiwan Relations Act, I mean in relation to the six assurances, so that doesn't really exclude the United States having a very fruitful productive interaction with Taiwan, as the Minister of Defense from the Philippines recently mentioned Gilberto, he also mentioned that when he was challenged by the Chinese on certain happenings about Taiwan and the Philippines, he said, well, you know, in the Philippines we have a one China policy, but that doesn't exclude us from having a productive or thriving interaction with Taiwan. That's precisely the point. Many countries, including Europe and the United States and other countries, are more and more aware that their one China policy does not exclude them for having a very productive interaction with Taiwan.

the geopolitical you know a part of this uh issue that is important to the united states and to the world, you know, as you know, uh probably 50 plus of the world trade goes through Taiwan Strait. Taiwan is relevant in terms of technology, semiconductor production, etc. And also we are like-minded with the United States in terms of we all value democracy, we all value human rights, rule of law, etc. So we have also become very important...

These skills should be built for good, and it is a good way to employ people without using technology to dictate or control our lives. So that is the important part. Taiwan will not only not...

the most advanced chips in Taiwan and obviously some are being made in United States eventually, but mostly are still made in Taiwan, especially the newest, most high end are still being made in Taiwan. We also make, I think, like 90 percent of the data servers and AI servers are made by Taiwanese companies, not necessarily physically in Taiwan, but by Taiwanese companies in the United States, Mexico, and other places. So we're very relevant to the AI development.

Like you said, Taiwan produces, like, more than 90% of the world's most advanced computer chips. So President Trump said that whoever wins, superintelligence, wins. Yes.

So Taiwan produces so many computer important chips. Will that make Taiwan a more critical player in this global AI race, especially between China and the US?

Of course we are. We want to win this race together. Again, we're like-minded in terms of values. We are trusted in terms of technology development. And the semiconductor production itself, it's a good symbiotic relationship between the United States, companies designed these very intricate chips, and using European and Japanese machines, lithograph machines, and manufactured by Taiwanese companies. This partnership is actually a partnership that is productive and beneficial to all three of us.

Of course, this would be managed by the Taiwanese. Some arguments are based on certain estimates; if they were to send [forces] to Taiwan, they would have Taiwan in Taiwan, they would have them in Taiwanese cars, they would have them in the cars in Taiwan. That is not true because, in Taiwan's cars, their cars, they have things from the south, Japan, other places, the United States; there are opportunities inside their cars. But why is TSMC so successful? Why do people continue to buy from TSMC? Because they are the best at making these brands. They don't just have machines; they are the machines, and in China, they are in China, they are in production. They created the state-owned companies that replicate TSMC, they've hired TSMC managers, engineers, but they cannot and so far have not been able to replicate that there, so they're still far away from reaching the capacity and the technology that TSMC has.

We learned from the United States, you know, our engineers were trained in the United States, we licensed from the United States, we didn't steal the technology, but we got very good at it. And not only TSMC, the company, but also the entire supply chain that is in Taiwan, you know, maybe there's hundreds if not a thousand companies that work with TSMC, the supply chain in Taiwan that makes this such a successful component. And that is the key for why you can buy semiconductors from Japan or Korea or the United States, but why do people keep buying from TSMC? Because they're very good, and they can, you know, with the suggestions from the United States, the Americans can...

This is Taiwan's value. If I understand correctly, if this is the case, if it were in Taiwan's situation, they controlled Taiwan's leaves [assets], they couldn't control the situation in Taiwan, they wouldn't just buy [to] explain the semiconductor race. First of all, I want to say, anybody wants Taiwan to be occupied by the PLA, so we will defend ourselves. That's what we're doing. Strengthen Taiwan so that they'll never dare to stop Taiwan. But even if they get hold of the TSMC factories, they're just getting machines that they can buy from the Netherlands and Japan, etc., against the human factor that they can't replicate, and that's what's valuable.

But again, people say, well, so why not just bring everything that the U.S. has and bring the TSMC system, bring the TSMC system, bring everything from the U.S. to the U.S., and then it can be done in Taiwan. We don't need Taiwan because we already have everything. It's not that easy in the U.S. because these things are very effective in Taiwan. Their results are remarkable. The relationships of these people and TSMC, and to do these American things, from one day to the next, that will take some time.

But what we are doing, TSMC is in the U.S., in Phoenix, the current investment is 65 billion U.S. dollars. That is the newly released, newly released, right? There are some rumors, no, no, unprecedented estimates and they mentioned TSMC earlier, not really improved, but there are estimates or doubts about TSMC's move. But that is expensive. You have to ask about the investment TSMC has made, TSMC's investment has reached 65 billion U.S. dollars. Ranking...

And we're also helping TSMC or we're trying to also bring the supply chain from Taiwan into the United States, maybe Arizona, maybe other places, Texas, others, and bring that successful formula into United States. But again, the brunt of the production for Taiwanese technology, you know, semiconductors, they will still be in Taiwan. But what we will do, definitely, our financial investments, we will move some production lines to the United States. And then we will bring back to Taiwan, because we will not forget... This is what we will use from Taiwan. But our main focus, these things we will see more, more, more.

But actually no, actually there is no, their demand is super, super, super. I don't think Nvidia can buy it all in Taiwan because they want more, Nvidia, AMD want more. TSMC cannot do it all in Taiwan because their demand is very large, they need to continue to extend their products. Taiwan is a continent, a continent of continents, we are very small, so we cannot have everything in Taiwan. Although TSMC itself is increasing more in Taiwan, but the shares in Taiwan, in the U.S., are just increasing other shares, not increasing, but actually it is increasing. The same thing, for example, in food, for example, McDonald's or Din Tai Fung, their shares are..., their shares are increasing more market, their shares are not just... their shares are their shares are...

Why should the fund and change their footprint? And actually that's good for our business and good for United States, because you're bringing in also technology, you're bringing job opportunities, but also our clients are United States. The one thing that I do appeal to United States is the passage of the avoidance of double taxation that is still pending to be approved by the US Senate. And the approval of ADTA, Double Taxation Bill, is important because we're the only major trading partner with the United States that does not enjoy such benefits. This means that Taiwanese people in the United States will have significant interests and income from sales in the United States, while the Taiwan government's revenue is stable. These volunteers are in a comparison of incontinence and other countries, compared to Japan and South Korea. And for most countries, they will implement this difference, but in most small and large countries, of course, that is the majority of the difference. So I recommend to the United States, it will make the United States, and it will provide more development for Taiwan in the United States.

Speaking of Taiwan's security, the 26-month F-16V is finally highly anticipated. We are looking forward to it in Taiwan. But the problem is, what about the big bluff in Hong Kong? The $14 billion market package still has energy, when will it come naturally? When will there be any action?

First of all, we will encourage, for the first time, the first of the 7 VIPER military F-16 projects they sent has finally appeared. You will see it being sent, so we know that the new company's F-16 will also be installed, so that is a very grateful and very appreciative action. But there are efforts, to estimate the manufactured clothes, before we buy them from the United States, and there are efforts, and there are efforts, so we have efforts.

And I also want to feel, we want to feel President Trump's, because President Trump's first chapter with Indonesia, Chinese and Taiwanese courses is unique, and he also visited the rare Shanghai. At the end of the year, his previous French awards were worth tens of billions of dollars, which is quite a lot for this user. But at the same time, with the giant's propaganda to the local area, it has three layers.

The third level that Taiwan is receiving from the People's Republic of China's army is actually pretty high. You know, if you look at Taiwan on a daily basis, there are always ships, Chinese ships and planes, and naval assets, coastal assets, even this purported steel-hull fishing boats, you know, that they actually act on orders of the Chinese government that are actually operating around Taiwan. So that's a constant threat that we received.

We need to strengthen our mobile devices, as much as possible, especially in the military, as a small country, against relatively large-scale attacks. We also need a stronger way, in a way that produces, we need a stronger way, a stronger way, a closer way, that is needed. We hope to continue to receive aviation IP, to Taiwan's choice and the fastest, eta shining the earliest.

You appeared 11-14 billion to be released. This is a description. Actually, in comparison, VUA has prepared a graphic comparing arms sales on the different U.S. administrations according to data from the DSCA. As of December 17, 2025, the amounts notified to Congress during each administration were Clinton is around 8.7 billion, George W. Bush 15.6 billion, and Obama administration is 13.9 billion. Trump's first turn like you know what the messenger said 18.2 billion and Biden was 8.3 billion so if we combine Trump's second turn 11 billion and another additional 14 billion in planned arms sale to Taiwan Trump's second turn actually total approximately 25.4 billion so what does that tell you about in general the US commitment to Taiwan under this administration? I mean not only this administration but the the the all the administration the u.s. administrations that uh u.s different presidents have been committed to the defense of taiwan you know providing enough sufficient uh arms equipments to taiwan selling we're not getting it for free we're buying uh and and and that has been the the the position of subsequent u.s administrations no matter which party they're from so that commitment is strong not only from the federal government but also from Congress Congress be it Republican, Democrats, Senate House or Senators there's always been a strong support for Taiwan increasing Taiwan's improving Taiwan's defense capabilities.

and beyond the dollar amount what does Taiwan most urgently urgently need from the United States to you know for the deterrent And to achieve the peace through strength Well I mean I think United States is well aware of the uh uh challenges and the, uh adversarial relationship that PRC is uh bringing on the region PRC's trying to accuse for example Japan of this new militarism you know they they remind us that japan invaded china in the late thirty's World War two that there's a resurgence of japanese militarism and at that we should he even says we should be full of guard regarding Japan's military, and he is also continuously deploying military hardware in Taiwan and the Philippines, making agriculture even more dangerous. This is actually on the other hand, the PLA soldiers are constantly deploying military buildup. Their currently biggest name in the world they have very large assets you know continuously improve adding and they're creating uh uh uh threats and instability in the region and that's why so many countries around the world including the united states you know i can just state uh during the last last week's united nations general assembly on the sidelines secretary rubio met with the four ministers of japan and Korea during their joint statements they mentioned you know the need for peace stability in taiwan straits no unilateral coercion no unilateral change of status quo even supporting taiwan's meaningful participation international organizations which we're very grateful but also from other countries there was also another meeting between the four ministers of eight countries which i'll be very fast was australia new zealand japan korea germany france Poland and UK they also in their joint statement also mentioned exactly the same thing peace stability Taiwan Straits no coercion no you'll know your lateral change your status quo and that is the prevalent feeling that you know most cou

ntries have like-minded countries democratic countries and China should not be the one creating all this trouble we're not creating we want peace and stability it is the people republic of China who is doing the creating all.

Regarding those things you mentioned about Japan, actually, on the days in April, in Tainan, US-China, Xi Jinping and Xi Jinping, they in history, in history, and the captain's "Trump" (Tire Tiger), and then Xi Jinping is also influencing. "Trump" (Tire Tiger) is a symbol, and the relationship with China, and you know, forging blood and fire, you know, fighting together against Japan, but we know that Taiwan government the next day on September 25th issued a statement challenging Beijing's historical narrative saying hey, I'm gonna quote here because he said the people's Republic of China established only in 1949, did not exist during the war. It was the Republic of China that fought with the United States side by side and the Communist Party's narrative cannot erase the Republic of China'shistorical contribution during World Two. What's your reaction to that?

It says exactly you know I also went on another TV interview and I also made very clear I brought out the figure of the bloodshed Trump sent reinforcements to rescue and dispatched troops... This shows that when the corps commander was in the background, heading towards the middle... This artist is Vijayan, letting them go in that direction. Actually, the PRC fought with the United States in the Korean War, the newly established PRC. So those narratives become like a diplomatic competition right now. Well, I mean, that's what the PRC is good at. They're good at changing many million semantics. President Trump mentioned the Flying Tigers as a way of saying the United States was there to help the Chinese people during when they had a crisis, a problem. Again there was a Japanese invasion which started in 1937 and then you had the American Volunteer Group who flew the Flying Tigers prior to the United States involvement in World War II prior to Pearl Harbor so there was a group of very valiant heroics young men under Claire Chenault who were directing the AVG and the Flying Tigers and they were flying the planes with... This dispatched someone with the Korean method. Is this a party dispatched by China? Japan's court ritual text's Japan's court ritual text's country.

In China, because of China, the communist war works until then they were a band of guerrillas, they were barely if any fighting the Japanese, if they did they were sort of small skirmishes in the fringes of the battle theater, the brunt of the war was fought by the government of the republic of China troops. And a journalist friend reminded me that what the Chinese, the PRC is doing is basically called stolen valor in the wholesale scale because how can you rob the efforts and the sacrifice of hundreds of thousands of people who fought against the Japanese during the war and rob them and say, no, we did it instead of them. That is just not right. That's why it was important for me to set the facts straight during the interview.

So it is important, the story of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is very important, so, it is very easy to explain, what you mentioned, the Communist Party of China was established in 1912, the democratic Communist Party of China was established in 1949, so, at that time, the Communist Party of China was established in 1945, so, it is very clear, and, just like at the same time, the Communist Party of China was established, the Communist Party of China was established not long after they were fighting and killing american soldiers in korea so they're the ones who've been on an adverse celebration with the united states constantly in my country the republic of china now we're situated in taiwan which means this is a different story and now we are you know obviously very very proud to be taiwanese after 77 years being in taiwan we're the ones who's constantly being your friends and allies and up to this day we're still your friends and allies.

So, Ambassador Yu, why does this piece of history still, not only serve as a shared memory of the past, but also, you know, hold real significance and why does it still matter to current U.S.-Taiwan relations? How can Taiwan preserve this history and turn this shared history into a strategic asset for U.S.-Taiwan relations? It is. I mean, it does symbolize and does mean that the relationship between my people, my country, the Republic of China that is now situated in Taiwan, and the relationship that we have with the United States goes back not just to after 1949; it goes way beyond that, during the time of the Flying Tigers back in the 30s. And also, we have scores—I've met scores of people in the United States whose fathers or, you know, grandfathers were missionaries in China; they were doctors in early China, and some were born in China, and they told me that they had to leave because of the Chinese Communist Revolution, and then some of them came to Taiwan. So, this bond between us goes way beyond the time when the government was in China. So, but again, I want to stress, the government that was in China then was relocated to Taiwan in 1949. And since then, for 77 years, we've been at odds with the Chinese Communist regime that has lived on mainland China. For 77 years, we have developed a very strong Taiwanese identity on the island, and now we are very proud to call ourselves Taiwanese, but the official name of my country is still the Republic of China. So, I want to stress that the PRC keeps saying the United States should oppose Taiwan independence; you know, that's what they're trying to do. The United States said, 'No, we have no change in policy,' this is not what we're saying.

And this is a personal frame-up; now no one is at this point, this point is historically non-party treason. We want what is bad for the country, and we also want to establish habits. We want the life we were born into; the United States is wealthy and enjoys this kind of food. We don't want any problems. So the Chinese Communist Party should think about it, why recently talk about Trump and a declaration, or the government and the government and the government, thinking about your ideas and the government's provision, the provision at this moment.

First, I want to express again, our Chinese people, the government and the government, for their support, for their support for freedom in Taiwan, I want to express, we want to protect the disadvantaged, we want to protect the disadvantaged, protect the disadvantaged and also it's important that the United States continue to provide us with the adequate equipment to be able to defend ourselves you know we we will never appease to to the bullies and I also want to borrow a phrase that was mentioned by your United States first diplomat called Benjamin Franklin and and he said back then 250 years ago that those who want to give up essential liberty to purchase a little piece of temporary safety deserves neither freedom nor safety you know and that's exactly our our our mentality we will fight to preserve our democracy and we're great we're. We are very appreciative and grateful that we have American friends who share the same values.

You are celebrating the 1950s of a Democratic Republic, We are celebrating 30 years of direct presidential elections in Taiwan. So that we are free and democratic and we supers inclusion our way of life. And we are very appreciative that the United States is on our side. Thank you so very much, astronauta Yu..Thank you very much for joining us and sharing your insights thank you. Thank you Daphne for you these Nou for your interview. Thank you very much. Thank you everyone