Donald J. Trump has been elected the 45th President of the United States of America and is scheduled to take office on Jan. 20, 2017.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said today, as the elections results were unfolding, that she has "confidence in future U.S.-Taiwan relations," and "has already instructed government authorities to prepare" for the effects the U.S. election results may have, reports state-owned CNA.

After the results were announced, Tsai congratulated Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence on their victory. She said the U.S. is the most important democratic country in the world and also Taiwan's most "solid" international partner. She looks forward to working with Trump and his government in improving U.S.-Taiwan relations and becoming a cornerstone in maintaining peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

Tsai also thanked current U.S. President Barack Obama and his administration in supporting and cooperating with Taiwan regarding various issues.

U.S.-Taiwan relations will not see any drastic changes with either U.S. presidential candidate elected, said Christian M. Marchant, political section chief at the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), this morning at the U.S. Presidential Election Watch hosted by the AIT and Taiwan Foundation for Democracy (TFD).

According to an interview with The Wall Street Journal on Oct. 4, President Tsai “expected relations to remain firm no matter whether Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton wins.”

Tsai also expects the new U.S. government to continue providing Taiwan with the defense weapons the country requires, reported United Daily News (UDN) in October.

The U.S. House Committee of Foreign Affairs on April 20 passed the resolution “reaffirming the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances as the cornerstone of United States-Taiwan relations."

The Assurances include promises of military sales and the role of the U.S. in cross-Strait relations, stating “[The US] would not exert pressure on the Republic of China [Taiwan] to enter into negotiations with the PRC [China]."

Editor: Edward White