Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) plans to visit Taiwan later this month but pushed back on questions about the trip being a part of his 2024 presidential ambitions.
"No, my sole purpose is to represent Virginia and to make sure that these investments that are being made in America by these trusted partners can come to Virginia," he said on Thursday.
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The Virginia governor said he saw the opportunity to travel to Taiwan as a way to help the "workforce" and "economy" of his state.
"One of the realities is that Virginia is one of the best states in America, I plan on making it the best and I'm so encouraged that heads of countries want to meet with me and to recognize the fact that as the governor of Virginia, I want to go make sure they know the benefits of the best workforce, the best infrastructure, the best economy, the best place to serve the rest of America, and the best place to live in," Youngkin said while in Fairfax, Virginia, to hand out a "Spirit of Virginia" award to a local business Cameron's Coffee and Cupcakes.
The former businessman is leading a Virginia delegation from April 24-29 to Taipei City, Taiwan; Tokyo; and Seoul, South Korea.
“I’m excited to represent the Commonwealth in my first trade mission to Asia that will focus on economic development opportunities, our shared priorities, and national security,” Youngkin said in his Tuesday announcement.
He plans to meet with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, other government officials, business associations, and company executives. The trip will be his first trip to Asia as governor.
In a Mason-Dixon poll in February, Youngkin was more popular among Virginia voters than Democratic President Joe Biden, with 56% approving of Youngkin's performance, while 45% of Virginians approved of the president's performance.
In a late March poll by Washington Post-Schar School, Youngkin had a 52% positive approval from Virginia registered voters. The poll did find that 56% of Virginians preferred the governor not to run for president.
Last November, former President Donald Trump took a bizarre social media swipe at the Virginia governor, suggesting his last name "sounds Chinese."
“Young Kin (now that’s an interesting take. Sounds Chinese, doesn’t it?) in Virginia couldn’t have won without me,” Trump wrote in a series of posts on Truth Social.
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As governor, Youngkin nixed a proposed $3.5 billion Ford electric vehicle battery factory from coming to Virginia over its ties to China. He called the plant by Ford Motor Company and their Chinese partner a “Trojan horse” that would undermine America's auto industry.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and a bipartisan group of lawmakers met with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen this past week, escalating tensions with Beijing. Prior to the meeting, China had warned the president of Taiwan that meeting with McCarthy would be a serious provocation.