TAIPEI: A US Cabinet member met Taiwan's leader on Monday (Aug 10) during the highest level visit from the United States since it switched diplomatic recognition from the island to China in 1979, a trip that Beijing has condemned.
Health Secretary Alex Azar arrived in Taipei on Sunday for a three-day visit to promote shared democratic values as well as the island's success in taming the coronavirus.
Azar's visit comes as relations between the United States and China are in tumult, with the two sides clashing over a wide range of trade, military and security issues, as well as the pandemic.
China, which insists Taiwan is its own territory and vows to one day reclaim it, has described Azar's visit as a threat to "peace and stability".
On Monday morning, Azar met Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, who advocates the island being recognised as a sovereign nation and is loathed by China's leaders.
"It's a true honour to be here to convey a message of strong support and friendship from President Trump to Taiwan," Azar told Tsai in the Presidential Office, standing in front of two Taiwanese flags.
"Taiwan's response to COVID-19 has been among the most successful in the world, and that is a tribute to the open, transparent, democratic nature of Taiwan's society and culture," said Azar.
Tsai told Azar his visit represented "a huge step forward in anti-pandemic collaborations between our countries", mentioning areas of cooperation including vaccine and drug research and production.
She also thanked the US for supporting its bid to be part of the World Health Organization (WHO), a body Beijing keeps the island frozen out of.
READ: As China tensions soar, US embraces Taiwan with visit, but cautiously
"Political considerations should never take precedence over the rights to health," Tsai said, calling Beijing's refusal to let Taiwan join "highly regrettable".
Azar brushed off China's criticism when asked about Beijing's anger over his visit.
"The message that I bring from the US government is one of reaffirming the deep partnership the United States has with Taiwan in terms of security, commerce, health care and shared common values of democracy, economic freedom and liberty," he told reporters before his meeting with Tsai.
Azar has previously been critical of Beijing's response to the coronavirus, which began in central China, as well as the WHO.
READ: WHO says China team interviewed Wuhan scientists over COVID-19 origins
It was a theme he repeated on Monday.
"(Taiwan) knew very early on ... to not trust some of the assertions coming out of there (Beijing) or validation from the World Health Organization," he said.
As well as meeting Tsai, Azar will hold talks with his counterpart Chen Shih-chung and Foreign Minister Joseph Wu.
TESTING CHINA
Chinese fighter jets briefly crossed the median line of the sensitive Taiwan Strait on Monday morning, the first full day of Azar's visit, before being "driven out" by Taiwan's air force, the island's defence ministry said.
The Chinese fighters were also tracked by Taiwan's land-based anti-aircraft missiles, the ministry said, citing the air force.
Taiwan has become a poster child for defeating the coronavirus thanks to a well-honed track and tracing programme as well as firm border controls.
Despite its proximity and economic links to China it has recorded fewer than 500 infections and seven deaths.
In contrast the US has recorded the most deaths in the world with more than 160,000 fatalities.
Washington remains the leading arms supplier to Taiwan but has historically been cautious in holding official contacts with it.
Under US President Donald Trump, relations with Taiwan have warmed dramatically and he has approved a number of major military sales, including F-16 fighter jets.
Douglas Paal, a former head of the American Institute in Taiwan, Washington's de facto embassy, said the Trump administration was still paying heed to China's red line - that no US official handling national security visit Taiwan.
Throughout the 1990s the United States sent trade officials to Taiwan with regularity.
The difference this time, he said, is the context, with Azar travelling at a time when relations between Washington and Beijing have hit a new low.
"Sending him to Taiwan shows respect for the old framework while putting a finger in China's eye at the same time," Paal said.
"The fact that they didn't choose to send a national security advisor or someone else suggests they are trying to come as close as possible to China's red line but don't want to cross it."
The last Cabinet minister to visit Taiwan was in 2014 when the then head of the Environmental Protection Agency led a delegation.
But Washington has billed Azar's visit as the highest level trip made by a senior administration official since the diplomatic switch.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiZGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vbmV3cy9hc2lhL2FsZXgtYXphci11bml0ZWQtc3RhdGVzLXRhaXdhbi12aXNpdC10c2FpLWluZy13ZW4tMTMwMDY2NDLSAQA?oc=5
2020-08-10 06:33:45Z
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