In the tensions surrounding Taiwan, China’s government has protested sharply against Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s transit visit to the United States. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told the press in Beijing on Thursday that China strongly opposes “any visit by a leader from the Taiwan region to the United States” and any official interaction between the United States and Taiwan. Taiwan’s President arrived in New York the day before on her way to visit diplomatic allies in Central America and began by reaffirming the democratic partnership with the United States.
China’s foreign ministry spokeswoman complained that authorities on both sides had made preparations for Tsai to engage in US politics. They also portrayed the stopover as enhancing official exchanges and US-Taiwan relations, in serious violation of the “one China principle” and previous agreements with China. Taiwan is at the center of China’s core interests and is “the first red line” that the United States must not cross.
The communications director of the US National Security Council, John Kirby, emphasized in Washington that such transit trips are not official visits but private. Since taking office in 2016, President Tsai has traveled the United States six times – each time meeting members of Congress and other officials. Other presidents of Taiwan have also traveled through the USA in this way. The People’s Republic should not use the transit as an excuse “to increase aggressive activities in the Taiwan Strait”. The US and China have differences over Taiwan that have been worked out for more than 40 years, Kirby pointed out.
Visits to Guatemala and Belize planned
Beijing sees the independently governed and democratic Taiwan only as part of the People’s Republic and is trying to isolate the island of 23 million people internationally. Honduras severed diplomatic relations with Taiwan in favor of Beijing on Sunday. Tsai plans to visit Guatemala and Belize, two of the world’s 13 countries that officially recognize Taiwan. On the return trip, the Taiwanese President also wants to make a stopover in Los Angeles.
From President Tsai’s point of view, the good cooperation between the democratic island republic and the USA is based on common values and interests. Amid the threats from China, Tsai, speaking to more than 700 US-based Taiwanese in New York, said her country had demonstrated its determination to defend itself and help protect peace in the region. Taiwan wants to continue working with partners in the democratic camp “in order to decisively advance on the path of democracy and freedom,” the Taiwan news agency CNA quoted as saying.
Media reports that Tsai could meet Kevin McCarthy, the new speaker of the US House of Representatives, in the US have not yet been confirmed by the Taiwanese government. The People’s Republic reacted to a visit by his predecessor Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan in August with large-scale military maneuvers. On Thursday, the President will travel to Central America. Taiwan’s President last traveled to the region in 2019 – before the start of the corona pandemic – and also made a stopover in the USA.
