Taiwan’s top representative in the U. S., Alexander Yui, recently met privately with a group of intelligence advisers called the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board (PIAB) in Washington. This meeting is significant as it marks one of the highest-level contacts between Taiwan and the U. S. during President Donald Trump’s second term. The PIAB is a less-known group comprised of various members who work outside the federal government and has played a minor role in policy-making historically.
A White House official indicated that the meeting was informal and not an official PIAB gathering. However, national security officials claim that the PIAB is becoming more influential in Trump’s administration, especially as other national security officials have faced mass firings. Taiwan, which China claims as its own, does not have formal ties with the U. S., making meetings between their officials sensitive.
On the day of the meeting, Trump was scheduled to discuss TikTok’s ownership with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Key members of the PIAB, including chairman Devin Nunes and former national security adviser Robert O’Brien, have personal connections with Trump and are said to have direct communications with him. Amaryllis Fox, a current deputy director of national intelligence, is also involved in the board. A political science professor noted that the PIAB appears to be more credible and active than during Trump’s first term.
Details of the discussion with Yui are not public, but it is known that O’Brien and Nunes were among those present. In the past, Taiwan’s defense minister had plans to visit the U. S. but canceled his trip. The representatives from Taiwan and O’Brien declined to comment on the meeting.
The National Security Council (NSC) has experienced significant firings recently, leaving it less effective, whereas the PIAB has been meeting regularly and is more visible at the White House. Although it is unclear what the PIAB discusses with the president, it is known that Trump respects several members. Some former NSC staffers have been recruited for PIAB positions, and foreign diplomats are consulting with PIAB members for insights on U. S. national security policies.
However, some officials caution against assuming that the PIAB’s rising influence is directly linked to the firings in other areas of the government, suggesting that a board of volunteers may not easily engage in complex national security matters regularly. The PIAB is appointed by the president, has security clearances, and is recognized as an official part of the White House, with its level of influence changing across different administrations.
With information from Reuters