United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Brendan Carr is visiting Taiwan from Wednesday to Friday to discuss issues concerning telecommunications and cybersecurity with local authorities, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) confirmed Wednesday.
“Commissioner Carr will meet with Taiwan interlocuters to discuss telecommunications, cybersecurity, and other significant issues of mutual interest,” an AIT spokesperson told local media in an email.
AIT represents U.S. interests in Taiwan in the absence of official diplomatic ties.
The AIT’s confirmation came after U.S.-based news site Axios first reported Carr’s arrival in Taipei on Wednesday, making him the first FCC commissioner to visit Taiwan in an official capacity. Carr is one of five FCC commissioners.
According to the AIT spokesperson, the FCC regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable in all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories.
It is an independent U.S. federal government agency overseen by Congress, responsible for implementing and enforcing America’s communications law and regulations.
“Given my position at the FCC, I look forward in particular to deepening the collaboration with Taiwan and sharing views on network resiliency, cyber, and telecom issues that are vital to our shared security interests,” Carr told Axios.
He also said he hoped his visit would send a strong message that “a free and democratic Taiwan — one that is independent from the [Chinese Communist Party]’s brutal authoritarianism — is vital to America’s own prosperity.”
He added that Taiwan’s chip industry is also important to American interests and economic growth, according to the Axios report.
According to Axios, Carr is outspoken about the risks posed by Chinese telecommunications companies and has recently called on the U.S. government to ban the Chinese-owned short video platform TikTok.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel