Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Wu Zhao-sheep said in an interview with National Public Radio (NPR) on September 20 that Taiwan has no intention of establishing formal diplomatic relations with the United States for the time being, but Taiwan still hopes to further strengthen U.S.-Taiwan relations.
U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar visited Taiwan in August of this year. U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Keith Krach visited Taiwan a month later.
These are the two highest-ranking U.S. officials to visit Taiwan since Washington officially severed diplomatic relations with Taipei and established diplomatic relations with Beijing in 1979, a move that triggered strong discontent in Beijing and further strained already tense U.S.-China and Taiwan Strait relations.
Wu Zhao Xie said in an interview, “We are not seeking full diplomatic relations with the United States at this time, but we certainly want to further explore ways to strengthen U.S.-Taiwan relations, and we have always advocated that Taiwan and the United States should further strengthen economic, trade, political and even security ties.”
He stressed that the two visits to Taiwan by Azar and Cratchit were “very significant.
Beijing stepped up its military exercises in the Taiwan Strait during the two U.S. officials’ visit, and sent fighter jets over the strait’s centerline several times. The National Public Radio report quoted Wu Zhaoxi as saying that “the crossing of the centerline by Chinese warplanes undermines the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait.
Wu said that it was important for Taiwan to remain vigilant at all times, which would prevent Beijing from resorting to force against Taiwan.
Although the United States is obligated to help Taiwan defend itself through the sale of warplanes and weapons systems, Wu said Taiwan would not rely on U.S. intervention in the event of a conflict in the Taiwan Strait, according to National Public Radio.
He said, “Taiwan’s defense is our own risk to take and our own responsibility, and we will strengthen our preparedness for any future situation.”
The Trump administration last year approved an $8 billion sale of F-16 fighter jets and other weaponry to Taiwan. Reuters reported in early September that Washington also plans to sell a range of weapons systems to Taiwan.
Regarding Hong Kong’s National Security Law and the prevention and control of the new coronavirus epidemic, Wu told NPR, “Taiwan is on the front lines of the fight for freedom and democracy, and we have a responsibility to ensure the success of democracy. To ensure the success of democracy in Taiwan, I will certainly urge the international community to support Taiwan more.
Mei-Chin Hsiao, Director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States, shared her views on U.S.-Taiwan relations in an interview with National Public Radio on Wednesday (September 23).
Hsiao said the United States and Taiwan have a strong and consistent relationship on defense issues. She said, “The United States is committed to helping Taiwan defend itself, and Taiwan wants to maintain a stable relationship with the United States and continue our security cooperation, which is the Taiwan Relations Act. We have a shared responsibility, including China, to ensure stability.”
Hsiao expressed optimism when discussing U.S.-Taiwan bilateral relations and emphasized that the U.S. and Taiwan share common values and have a market economy based on respect for freedom and rules.
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