It is an important signal that underlines the commitment of the United States to Taiwan and its democracy, said the office of the President in Washington. As seen on Taiwanese television, former US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and James Steinberg and former Senator Christopher Dodd landed at Taipei Airport. The three are considered close confidants of Biden.
It is planned that the US representatives will meet with Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen on Thursday. The visit highlighted the “strong relationship between Taiwan and the United States,” which is “strong as a rock,” said Taiwanese Presidency spokesman Xavier Chang. A spokesman for the Taipei State Department said Beijing had made “serious objections” to the visit to the US.
Taiwan broke away from China in 1949. Beijing regards the island as a breakaway province, although it never belonged to the People’s Republic, and wants to unite it with the mainland – if necessary by force. Since the election of independence advocate Tsai Ing-wen as Taiwanese president in 2016, Beijing has increased diplomatic, economic and military pressure. The US broke off diplomatic relations with Taipei in 1979, but at the same time remained Taiwan’s strongest ally and the country’s most important arms supplier.
Pressure on Taiwan is growing
With its one-China principle, the communist leadership in Beijing is increasingly sidelining Taiwan on the world stage: Anyone who has relations with Beijing is not allowed to diplomatically recognize Taiwan. Only less than two dozen, mostly smaller, states are behind Taiwan, which ranks 17th among the world’s economies. Germany also only has one representative office in Taipei.
Ready for defense: a Taiwanese fighter jet
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The rising power of China is causing the United States increasing concern. Ex-President Donald Trump had tightened the course towards the government in Beijing. His successor Biden has initiated a departure from Trump’s policy in many areas, but he wants to stick to a tough course in China policy.
In the past week, reports of Chinese military exercises off the island caused irritation. On Friday, the US government issued new guidelines that should deepen contacts with Taiwan. The US State Department said it was about a “liberalization of the recommendations for action” for contacts between American government agencies and Taiwan. You should encourage dialogue “that reflects our growing informal relationships”. “The requirements underline that Taiwan is a living democracy and an important security and economic partner who is also a force for good in the international community.”
Provocation with 25 military jets
On Monday, China created new tensions with the US with a provocative use of military aircraft against Taiwan. A record number of 25 aircraft violated the so-called identification zone for Taiwan’s air defense, said the Ministry of Defense in Taipei. Among them were bombers that could carry nuclear weapons. For months, China’s military aircraft have repeatedly violated Taiwan’s air defense identification zone, thereby increasing the pressure.
In response to the new US guidelines, China warned the Washington government on Tuesday against “playing with fire”. The government in Washington must “immediately stop all official American-Taiwanese contacts,” said a State Department spokesman. Nor should the US send “the wrong signals to the forces of independence”. When establishing diplomatic relations with China, the US committed itself to maintaining only cultural, economic and informal relations with Taiwan.
kle / sti (afp, rtr, dpa)
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