In Taiwan, on January 23, 2026, President Lai Ching-te met with U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego at the Presidential Office to discuss strengthening Taiwan-U.S. relations. The meeting was held in the context of increasing economic, military, and diplomatic pressure from China on Taiwan. Lai emphasized Taiwan's commitment to maintaining the status quo in the region, highlighting that this status is essential for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. He also pointed out Taiwan's recent proposal of an eight-year, US$40 billion special defense budget which aims to bolster Taiwan's self-defense capabilities by investing in advanced local technologies. Furthermore, Lai noted that Taiwan and the United States have successfully concluded tariff negotiations and signed an investment Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to foster closer collaboration in the high-tech sector. This partnership is seen as critical for elevating Taiwan's strategic role in the international community, especially in light of ongoing Chinese pressures. In response, Senator Gallego expressed bipartisan support in Congress for Taiwan's sovereign independence and acknowledged the importance of Taiwan's defense initiatives. He also indicated that American senators are paying close attention to Taiwan's defense budget. On the same day, Taiwan's Minister of Economic Affairs, Kung Ming-hsin, visited San Francisco as part of the Taiwanese government's initiative to enhance cooperation with the U.S. in technological innovation and startup promotion. During his visit, Kung led a delegation to Stanford University where they renewed the Taiwan Research Institute Entrepreneur Ecosystem Program, which focuses on supporting Taiwanese startups with mentorship from Stanford's experts. This program has reportedly benefited 20 local startups and aims to deepen Taiwan's involvement in global artificial intelligence and robotics supply chains. Kung also visited Cadence Design Systems, a notable player in electronic design automation, where discussions emphasized the longstanding collaboration between Cadence and Taiwan's semiconductor industry. The efforts signify Taiwan's strategy to solidify its place in the rapidly evolving technological landscape through international partnerships while also addressing domestic capabilities amid external pressures.