Taiwan has opened a new representative office in Phoenix, its 14th in the United States, after Beijing twice pressed Arizona's governor to reject the move. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) attended the unveiling on October 5, local time, the final stop of a trip of more than a week through the Americas that coincided with former President Tsai Ing-wen's (蔡英文) first visit to the United States since leaving office in May 2024.
Beijing's Letters To Arizona's Governor
According to the Associated Press, after Taiwan announced its plan for the Phoenix office in July, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs received two letters from China's consulate general in Los Angeles. The letters urged her to reject what Beijing called attempts by the Taiwan authorities and to stop any political maneuvering that could damage friendly cooperation between China and Arizona.
Hobbs did not back down. Speaking at the opening ceremony, she said every elected official in Arizona should show the courage needed to support the state's partnership with Taiwan.
Who Attended The Opening In Phoenix
Lin arrived in Phoenix on the evening of October 3 and met separately with Hobbs and Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego before the ceremony. Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the unveiling drew more than 200 guests, including office director Chiao Kuo-en (焦國恩), whose post is equivalent to a consul general, Hobbs, Gallego, Republican Congressman Andy Biggs and Ingrid Larson, managing director of the American Institute in Taiwan. Leaders of the Taiwanese American community and representatives of TSMC and other Taiwanese companies also attended.
In his meetings with Hobbs and Gallego, Lin discussed two-way investment, talent development, and technology and industrial cooperation. He and Hobbs later witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Taiwan's National Innovation and Entrepreneurship Association (NiEA) and the Arizona Commerce Authority.
Why Taiwan Chose Phoenix
Writing on Facebook, Lin said he called meetings to discuss the office as soon as he returned from a North American trip late last year. He thanked President Lai Ching-te (賴清德), the US State Department and Hobbs for their support, noting the office opened after just six months of preparation.
The driver is TSMC. As the chipmaker has built plants in Arizona, its suppliers, partners and a growing number of Taiwanese professionals have followed, tightening ties between the two sides. Lin said two-way investment, business travel and exchanges will keep growing, and government services need to keep pace.
During the visit, Lin toured TSMC's Arizona fab, held talks with companies in its supply chain, led a business delegation to a briefing on Arizona's investment climate at the Arizona Commerce Authority, and visited industrial and startup parks to learn what Taiwanese firms need to invest, operate and grow in the United States.
From Desert City To Chip Hub
Lin said people once thought of Phoenix mainly for its desert, heat and canyons, but many Taiwanese now think of TSMC first. He described the city as a good example of what he calls his "new flying geese" model and "international joint fleet," in which leading companies bring their suppliers and partners abroad, the government supports them in expanding global business, and a full industrial ecosystem gradually takes shape. With China Airlines and Starlux Airlines now flying direct to Phoenix, he said he hopes the new office will serve Taiwanese citizens, help more Taiwanese companies put down roots, and introduce Taiwan to more Americans.
The foreign ministry said relations between Taiwan and the United States have moved from being stakeholders to shareholders, and that the Phoenix office marks a new milestone in their economic partnership. It said the government will work with businesses to deepen cooperation with Arizona and New Mexico in trade, culture, education and supply chains, anchoring Taiwan's influence in the southern United States.
The Central America Leg Of The Trip
Before arriving in the United States, Lin led a business delegation from September 27 to Belize and Guatemala, two of Taiwan's diplomatic allies. In Belize from September 28 to 30, he called on Governor General Froyla Tzalam and Prime Minister John Briceño on September 29, and held bilateral talks with Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister Francis Fonseca on cooperation projects and expanding collaboration under Taiwan's Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Partnership program.
In Guatemala from September 30 to October 2, Lin met Foreign Minister Carlos Martínez on October 1. The next day, he joined President Bernardo Arévalo to inspect the planned site of a cancer hospital and the capital's international airport, co-hosted a reception with Vice President Karin Herrera marking 92 years of diplomatic relations and Taiwan's National Day, and called on First Lady Lucrecia Peinado.
The foreign ministry said the Central American stops were aimed at opening business opportunities. The delegation held economic cooperation conferences and business matchmaking sessions in both countries, brought along representatives of the US-Taiwan Business Council, and met local American chambers of commerce to connect Taiwanese, American and allied companies, drawing on the two allies' position as a bridge between North America, Latin America, the Pacific and the Caribbean.
