The United States should work with its partners to help Taiwan defend freedoms, former Governor of Florida and current U.S. Senator Rick Scott, who is on a three-day visit to Taipei, said on Friday, while meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen (???).

The U.S. and all freedom-loving countries in the world should work together to "make sure that Taiwan has the opportunity to decide their future, not have it decided by some foreigner," said Scott, who took office as the junior senator from Florida following the end of his gubernatorial term in 2019.

They ought to continue working together to make sure Taiwan is well-positioned to defend its freedoms, he added, alluding to the growing influence of China in the Indo-Pacific region.

He said that as a member of the Senate committees on both armed services and commerce, he remained committed to the freedoms and security of Taiwan.

He added that he also looked forward to meeting with Taiwanese officials and business leaders to discuss ways to increase bilateral trade.

Similarly, President Tsai stressed the need for "democratic partners to deepen cooperation" in light of several challenges facing the world in recent years, mentioning, in particular, the COVID-19 pandemic, the expansion of authoritarianism, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"Taiwan will continue to work closely with the U.S. to jointly safeguard the stability and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region," Tsai said.

Speaking about a joint initiative -- the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade -- launched in June, Tsai said that both sides were working together to map out a clear pathway to negotiating and signing a trade agreement between Taiwan and the U.S.

Interactions as such will continue to bolster the foundations of Taiwan-U.S. cooperation, Tsai said, adding that she looked forward to an even stronger and closer partnership between the two countries.

Having wrapped up his visits to South Korea and Japan, Scott arrived in Taiwan Thursday afternoon for a three-day visit.

During his stay, he will also meet with Premier Su Tseng-chang (???) and Yang Jen-ni (???), deputy head of Taiwan's Office of Trade Negotiations, as well as other senior officials to discuss issues such as "U.S.-Taiwan relations, regional security, trade and investment, global supply chains," according to the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT).

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel