I arrived in Washington, D.C., just as the city was easing into the early rhythms of the holiday season, when the early winter air turns crisp, the skyline glows a little earlier each afternoon, and garlands begin to appear on the façades of federal buildings.
There’s a particular feeling to Washington in late November: the policy world moves at full speed, yet the city itself feels just on the cusp of slowing down for the holidays. This visit, however, had a special purpose. I had come for the swearing-in of Michael DeSombre as the new Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs.
Many in the international business community will recognize DeSombre from his distinguished career in the region. Before his new appointment, he served as the United States Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand, following a long tenure as a partner at the Sullivan & Cromwell law firm. Between public service roles, he also chaired Save the Children Hong Kong, bringing a long-standing commitment to humanitarian engagement into his leadership portfolio.
Watching him take the oath in Washington — surrounded by colleagues, family, and friends — offered a powerful glimpse of how continuity and expertise still anchor U.S. policy in the Indo-Pacific, even as the global environment grows more complex.
The room was filled with officials who have shaped the region’s trajectory for decades, along with those who will influence its next chapter. There is something grounding about gatherings that blend formality with a shared understanding of the stakes, reinforcing why U.S. engagement in East Asia remains indispensable.
Beyond the ceremony, my time in Washington unfolded through a series of meetings with long-standing partners and friends of AmCham Taiwan. Over the course of several days, I spoke with officials from the State Department and the Department of Commerce, analysts at leading think tanks, and representatives from TECRO. Each conversation reaffirmed the same message: Taiwan remains top of mind, and the strength of bipartisan support is in many ways more deeply rooted than ever before.
One detail often overlooked, even by some familiar with the Hill, is that the Taiwan Caucus is one of the largest bipartisan caucuses in Congress. Its size has grown steadily as members from both parties recognize Taiwan’s strategic importance, democratic resilience, and central role in global supply chains.
The priorities raised by my counterparts closely tracked the concerns we brought to Washington during our June Doorknock. Double taxation, supply chain resilience, digital trade, investment conditions, regulatory clarity, and security all emerged as central areas of shared focus.
This alignment also reflects the evolution of the Chamber’s role. Much like Taiwan’s economy and society, our engagement has grown more sophisticated and multi-layered. Where earlier eras may have centered on traditional business interests, today’s conversations span digital governance, semiconductor policy, workforce development, and emerging innovation ecosystems.
As the year draws to a close, my time in Washington served as a valuable checkpoint. It offered a chance to reaffirm the partnerships that structure our work, to compare notes on the year ahead, and to ensure that the priorities of AmCham Taiwan remain clearly understood among those shaping U.S. policy.
Walking along Pennsylvania Avenue, I was reminded how this work balances permanence with change. The architecture and institutions endure, but the policy landscape shifts, new actors emerge, and the value of steady engagement grows with each passing year. The trip captured that dynamic well — a relationship that holds firm in its goals while adjusting to meet an ever-evolving regional environment.
As the policy world moves into its short holiday pause, the importance of continued engagement — in both Washington and Taipei — is unmistakable. The conversations we hold now will shape the decisions to come. I look ahead to the new year confident that our partnerships will continue to guide and reinforce AmCham Taiwan’s work in an ever-changing environment.
