Virginia Governor Arrives in Taiwan for Bilateral Talks With Island’s President" title="Virginia Governor Arrives in Taiwan for Bilateral Talks With Island’s President" />

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and his delegation arrived in Taiwan on Monday for the first stop of their Asian tour and met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen to discuss economic and trade cooperation.

During their meeting, Tsai expressed her appreciation to Youngkin for the delegation’s visit and said she looks forward to expanding bilateral cooperation with the U.S. state of Virginia, her office stated.

“We very much welcome Virginia to come to Taiwan to set up a business office and continue to deepen bilateral economic and trade relations,” Tsai said, according to a statement released by her office.

Youngkin, a Republican, said the new office in Taiwan shows his “firm commitment” to enhancing cooperation with the island. Currently, Virginia only has overseas business offices in Germany, South Korea, and Japan.

He believes that the Taiwan business office will increase the volume of cargo exports and be mutually beneficial for both parties. Their main exported products are high-tech and agricultural products, Youngkin said.

Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said the two sides will sign a memorandum of understanding to promote stronger economic and trade cooperation during the delegation’s two-day visit to the self-ruled island.

The delegation will hold talks with Taiwan’s foreign trade associations and industry leaders to explore bilateral economic and trade exchanges and business opportunities with Taiwan, the ministry stated.

Besides Taiwan, they will also visit Japan and South Korea during their trip from April 24 to 29. Youngkin views these three countries as “critical markets” that will advance economic growth and prosperity in Virginia.

“In strengthening these relationships, we are not only reaffirming our commitment to our allies but also strengthening the spirit of Virginia and America,” he said earlier this month.

Virginia Alliance for Semiconductor Technology

Youngkin announced the Virginia Alliance for Semiconductor Technology (VAST) on April 21, which aims to bring together industry and university partners to create new workforce development opportunities.

According to his office, VAST’s primary focus is job-ready workforce training through three new fast-track to semiconductor careers certification programs that span the semiconductor supply chain.

This initiative will target veterans and underserved communities, with the goal of producing 500-job ready workforce certifications over the next three years through over 25,000 hours of hands-on lab and equipment training.

“Virginia is stepping up to lead the way by investing in key initiatives that will deliver STEM talent to a robust and growing workforce across the Commonwealth,” Youngkin said in a statement.

“Together, our private and public sector partnerships will create new opportunities in semiconductors, microelectronics and nanotechnology to drive critically important economic sectors and technology leadership,” he added.

Virginia is home to many foreign-owned business establishments, including five from Taiwan, 133 from Japan, and 25 from South Korea, according to Youngkin’s office.

Youngkin’s trip to Taiwan will likely put China on alert because the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) considers Taiwan a territory and views these types of meetings between U.S. and Taiwanese leaders as an affront to its claim over the island nation.

Beijing staged a three-day military drill around Taiwan on April 8 after Tsai met with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in California. Chinese aircraft incursions into the region continued despite the fact that the CCP had already proclaimed the conclusion of its military exercise on April 10.

Youngkin considers the CCP an aggressor and earlier this year banned the Chinese-owned app TikTok from government devices, pulled out of negotiations for a China-backed Ford Motor Co. electric vehicle battery plant, and signed a bill to ban the sale of farmland to foreign adversaries, including China.

The farmland bill, SB 1438, was passed in February by the Virginia House with a 67–30 vote a week after the Senate passed it on a 23–16 vote.

Masooma Haq contributed to this report.

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