For the first time since diplomatic relations between Taiwan and the United States were severed, the U.S. Embassy in France invited Taiwan’s representative in France into its residence for an exchange. During the meeting, Acting Ambassador Adjele reiterated his support for Taiwan’s participation in international organizations and that both sides will continue to deepen exchanges and work together to maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. The Central News Agency reported that this is the first time since Taiwan and the United States broke off diplomatic relations.
Acting U.S. Ambassador to France Adler invited Representative to France Wu Zhizhong to his residence for a lunch meeting on April 30, the first time the U.S. Embassy in France has invited Taiwan’s ambassador to its residence since the breakup of diplomatic relations between Taiwan and the U.S. in 1979. During the meal, the two sides exchanged views on the stability of the Indo-Pacific region, Taiwan’s successful experience in epidemic prevention, expanding Taiwan’s international participation, Taiwan’s economic and trade strength and sharing universal values.
According to the report, in addition to reiterating his support for Taiwan’s participation in international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), Ajler said during the meeting that the two sides would continue to work together to maintain stability and peace in the Indo-Pacific region.
Wu thanked the U.S. for its unwavering support and expressed his hope that both sides would strengthen their partnership and deepen cooperation and exchanges based on the universal values of shared democracy, freedom and human rights.
Regarding the official exchanges between Taiwan and the U.S. in France, which have been absent for more than 40 years, Wu told the Central News Agency: “Taiwan is starting to normalize its exchanges with other countries, and China can no longer prohibit us from normalizing our exchanges with the world,” said Wu. From (former Secretary of State) Mike Pompeo to (current Secretary of State) Antony Blinken, the U.S. has also stopped accepting China’s threatening ways of the past and has begun to move in the direction of normal exchanges with Taiwan, which is highly symbolic. Even though there are no diplomatic relations due to international realities, working together and seeking a future is the basic attitude for humanity to move forward”.
The two sides met in a cordial atmosphere, and the U.S. Embassy in France also tweeted after the meeting, writing, “Acting U.S. Ambassador to France Ajler met with Taiwan’s representative in France, Wu Chi-chung. He emphasized the long-standing friendship between U.S. and Taiwanese folk, the shared democratic values of both sides, and the importance of Taiwan in the security and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region.”
According to the Central News Agency, the U.S. State Department recently released its latest guidelines for engagement with Taiwan, loosening the restrictions on anachronistic Taiwan-U.S. engagement and strongly encouraging its government agencies to interact with Taiwan on a regular basis; the Acting U.S. Ambassador to France invited Taiwan’s representative in France to meet at his residence, a practical action by the U.S. side to further enhance the Taiwan-U.S. partnership.
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