Taiwanese Foreign Minister visits Arizona to open new representative office

Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung is leading a delegation to Phoenix, Arizona, to inaugurate a new representative office. This office marks Taiwan’s fourteenth such location in the United States and is intended to strengthen economic, commercial, and cultural ties between Taipei and Washington.

The visit focuses heavily on the semiconductor industry, as Arizona hosts significant investments from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC). Lin is scheduled to tour TSMC fabrication facilities and meet with local leaders, including Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs and Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, to reinforce institutional support for Taiwanese firms operating in the region.

The diplomatic mission follows a high-stakes summit in Washington between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. While the two leaders agreed to a bilateral trade truce through early 2027, tensions remain regarding Taiwan’s status, with Beijing continuing to claim the island as part of its territory.