TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday (May 20) congratulated President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on his inauguration.

In a press release, Blinken congratulated Lai on his inauguration as the fifth democratically-elected president of Taiwan. He also congratulated the people of Taiwan for “once again demonstrating the strength of their robust and resilient democratic system.”

Blinken said the partnership between the people of the U.S. and Taiwan based on democratic values “continues to broaden and deepen across trade, economic, cultural, and people-to-people ties.”

Reflecting on the eight-year tenure of former President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), Blinken lauded her for bolstering ties between Washington and Taipei during her time in office. 

Blinken concluded that the White House looks forward to working with Lai and all Taiwanese political leaders to forward the two countries “shared interests and values, deepen our longstanding unofficial relationship, and maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.”