Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu Meets With U.S. Envoy
Taiwan’s new legislative speaker, Han Kuo-yu of the opposition Kuomintang, has met with de facto U.S. ambassador to Taiwan, Sandra Oudkirk.
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00:00 It's just a few days until Taiwan's newly elected lawmakers gather here at the country's
00:05 legislature for the new session.
00:07 And the new speaker of the legislature, Han Kuo-yu of the opposition Kuomintang, he's
00:13 meeting the United States' de facto ambassador to Taiwan.
00:17 Now why is this significant?
00:18 Han Kuo-yu is known for being more pro-China than pro-US.
00:23 When he ran for president four years ago, he made a very controversial trip to China
00:28 and met some top officials there.
00:30 The Taiwanese public, however, they're becoming more wary of China and more pro-US.
00:36 They recently voted in the ruling Democratic Progressive Party into a historic third term
00:40 in the presidential office.
00:42 But the Kuomintang, Han Kuo-yu's party, they have a majority in the legislature.
00:48 So all eyes will be on Han Kuo-yu and his party and on how they deal with Washington,
00:53 particularly when it comes to those all-important US weapons that they need to buy to deter
00:58 China.
00:59 So this meeting, the first major event for Han Kuo-yu in his new role, is seen as a sign
01:04 that although Han Kuo-yu is pro-Beijing, it's Washington that comes first.
01:10 John Su and Rick Lowat in Taipei for Taiwan Plus.
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