Taiwan pushed its case for closer US ties at a gathering of Midwestern state lawmakers, framing the two economies as partners rather than rivals — a positive signal for trade, though the backdrop is rising pressure from China.

• Taiwan's top representative in Chicago, Lei Yen-feng, spoke to the executive committee of the Midwestern Legislative Conference at its annual meeting in St. Paul, Minnesota.
• The pitch: Taiwan became America's fourth-largest trading partner in 2025, and the two economies fill each other's gaps rather than compete.
• Taiwan sent its biggest-ever delegation to the SelectUSA investment summit in May, with most groups touring the Midwest to look at drones, chips, robots, and food.
• The Midwest is also Taiwan's largest US farm trading partner, giving state lawmakers a direct stake in the relationship.
• Lei condemned China for twisting a UN resolution to shut Taiwan out of international bodies, and for damaging undersea cables near the island.

Outlook: Expect Taiwan to keep courting US state governments directly as a way around the limits on formal diplomacy.