Taiwan's former president Tsai Ing-wen will speak in the United States before the sitting president does, a sign of how much weight she still carries in Taipei-Washington ties.

• Tsai Ing-wen speaks on October 7 at a Stanford technology and national security conference, her first US trip since leaving office.
• She will also speak at Stanford's Hoover Institution the next day on democracy, resilience and global security.
• Her theme is Taiwan's role in critical technology and as a front line for democracy, aimed at deepening ties with allies.
• Current president Lai Ching-te has not yet transited the US on any foreign trip, making the contrast awkward.
• The conference focuses on AI, drones and self-driving systems, space and commercial intelligence — all areas where Taiwan wants to be seen as indispensable.

Outlook: Expect Beijing to object loudly, and expect questions in Taipei about when Lai gets his own US stopover.