“For decades, we’ve been working to make Southern California the new gateway to the Asia-Pacific region. These new daily non-stop flights are a major victory for the members of our community as well as the regional industries who will have new opportunities to pursue international growth.
“Connecting the world to the United States and strengthening our economic relationships has been a top priority of mine as Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. This new partnership is a recipe for success and prosperity that is worthy of celebration.”
In August of 2017, Rep. Royce led a bipartisan delegation to Taiwan for a fifth time as Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee to advocate for peace, stability, and economic growth. During the visit, the delegation met with the mayor of Taoyuan, Taiwan and the chairman of China Airlines to discuss the company’s plans to expand nonstop service to California’s Ontario Airport.
Rep. Royce championed Taiwan’s entry into the Visa Waiver Program in 2012 and Global Entry in 2017 which have translated into new growth with travel volume between the U.S. and Taiwan increasing by more than 50 percent.
Taiwan is California’s seventh largest trading partner, and the people of Taiwan spend approximately $7 billion a year on Californian goods and services. This translates into significant economic benefits for California residents as more tourists and business travelers take advantage of a closer and more efficient way to travel across the Pacific Ocean.
