While on a stop in New York before meeting with Central American countries allied with her own, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen praised the relationship between Taiwan and the United States, calling it “closer than ever.”
Tsai made the comments during a closed-door speech Wednesday night, per Al Jazeera, while on a “transit” through the U.S. that Tsai has reiterated is only a stop on her way to Guatemala and Belize. The Taiwanese leader also commended “significant progress” in economic and security cooperation between her country and Washington, according to a statement from her office.
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Why has Tsai, and the U.S. for that matter, put an emphasis on the stop in the U.S. being just a “transit?” China considers Taiwan to be a part of its country and, thus, views relations between Taiwan and other countries, predominantly the U.S., as a threat to its sovereignty. China’s anger is only exacerbated by the reports that Tsai is likely to meet House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) in California next week during her return trip from Central America.
On Wednesday, Tsai hailed her country as a “beacon of democracy in Asia” and said the island would not be isolated despite the “enormous challenges” it faces, according to the Qatari-based news outlet. Gov. Phil Murphy (D) and Laura Rosenberger, chairwoman of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), which operates the de facto U.S. embassy in Taiwan, were reportedly at the event.
“We have demonstrated a firm will and resolve to defend ourselves, that we are capable of managing risks with calm and composure, and that we have the ability to maintain regional peace and stability,” Tsai said.
On Thursday, Tsai’s itinerary was largely kept secret, but she did attend an event at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York and accept a global leadership award from the Hudson Institute. The developments, set in front of a backdrop of already increasing fragility, are not likely to appease China’s misgivings.
Tsai is expected to return home from the Americas on April 8. Her visit to Guatemala and Belize comes as other countries in the region, such as Honduras most recently, have flipped their diplomatic ties from Taiwan to China.
Earlier this month, 50% of Americans said China was the U.S.’s greatest enemy, including 76% of Republicans, according to a Gallup poll.
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McCarthy, who has been vocal in his support for Taiwan, vowed to visit Taiwan prior to obtaining the speaker’s gavel. It is unclear if he still will travel to the island after likely meeting with Tsai on U.S. soil next week.
Then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) visited Taiwan last year, making her the highest-ranking elected U.S. official to visit the island since Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA) in 1997. After Pelosi’s visit, which China saw as a violation of its sovereignty, Beijing flexed its muscles, launching missiles over Taiwan, deploying warships across the median line of the Taiwan Strait, and carrying out military exercises near the island.
