NBR Delegation to Taiwan Led by Admiral John C. Aquilino
Trip Summary
From April 28–May 2, 2025, Admiral John C. Aquilino (U.S. Navy, ret.) and NBR President Michael Wills led a delegation of NBR experts and affiliates to the Republic of China (Taiwan). The delegation exchanged views with representatives from the Taiwanese government, civil society, defense industry, and scholarly community on the regional security environment, Taiwanese politics, U.S.-Taiwan relations, and other topics of shared interest. In addition to Admiral Aquilino and Mr. Wills, the delegation included Dana White (former Pentagon Chief Spokesperson), Lauren Dickey (Harman International), Roy Kamphausen (NBR), Jeremy Rausch (NBR), and Alayna Bone (NBR).
During the visit, the delegation met with leaders from the Aerospace Industrial Defense Corporation, the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, Lung-teh Shipbuilding, and the Prospect Foundation, as well as the American Institute in Taiwan, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of National Defense, National Security Council, and Legislative Yuan. The delegation also met with both President Lai Cheng-te and former President Tsai Ing-wen.
In his remarks welcoming the delegation, President Lai recognized both Admiral Aquilino’s and NBR’s contributions to advancing international understanding of Taiwan’s role in the Indo-Pacific and in the broader effort to further global democratic development. President Lai also reaffirmed Taiwan’s commitment to strengthening its defense capabilities and building “whole-of-society” resilience under the “Four Pillars of Peace” action plan to enhance self-sufficiency in national defense.
Admiral Aquilino commended Taiwan’s swift and determined efforts to bolster its self-defense and deterrence capabilities. He also reaffirmed his and NBR’s commitment to supporting a strong U.S.-Taiwan relationship to help safeguard peace and stability in the region.
The NBR delegation meeting President Lai Ching-te
Admiral Aquilino talking with Defense Minister Wellington Koo during the delegation’s visit to the Ministry of National Defense
Michael Wills and Deputy Minister Chen Ming-chi during a luncheon with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
