TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Friday told visiting US senators that his administration is committed to promoting Taiwan-US non-communist supply chains.

The visiting delegation included Senators Pete Ricketts, Chris Coons, and Ted Budd, according to Radio Taiwan International. Ricketts, a Republican from Nebraska, chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy. Coons, a Democrat from Delaware, serves as the ranking member, while Budd is a Republican from North Carolina.

Lai thanked the senators for their long-standing support of Taiwan-US relations and praised the bipartisan consensus on Taiwan-related issues. He said his administration will continue to advance defense reforms, enhance social resilience, and increase the defense budget to more than 3% of gross domestic product.

Lai also discussed the "Taiwan Plus One" initiative, which he said aims to deepen cooperation with the US in technology, innovation, and trade. He said the initiative would help both countries tackle global challenges such as climate change, geopolitical tensions, and supply chain realignments.

Senator Ricketts called Taiwan a “long-time friend and partner” of the US and condemned efforts to alter the status quo through threats or the use of force. He reaffirmed that the US will continue to provide Taiwan with the tools and support it needs to defend itself.