Taipei, Taiwan:
The US lifting of restrictions on interactions with Taiwanese officials is a “big thing”, Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu mentioned on Monday, describing it as a significant increase for relations with the island’s most essential worldwide backer.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the move on Saturday, in the waning days of the Trump administration ahead of Joe Biden assuming the U.S. presidency on Jan. 20.
China, which claims democratic Taiwan as its personal territory, has however to formally respond, but the move is most likely to boost Sino-U.S. tensions as Biden prepares to take more than.
“This is a big thing for the elevation of Taiwan-U.S. relations,” Wu told reporters, expressing his “sincere gratitude” to the U.S. government.
“Taiwan-U.S. relations have been elevated to a global partnership. The foreign ministry will not let our guard down and hope to continue to boost the development of Taiwan-U.S. ties.”
Although the United States, like most nations, has no official ties with Taiwan, it is bound by law to provide it with the signifies to defend itself, and below President Donald Trump has ramped up arms sales and sent senior officials to Taipei.
On Wednesday, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Kelly Craft, will arrive in Taipei for a 3-day take a look at, which China has denounced.
Wu mentioned each he and President Tsai Ing-wen would meet Craft on Thursday.
The subject for the take a look at is to talk about how to market Taiwan’s international participation, he added.
Craft’s take a look at is hugely symbolic, as Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations nor most worldwide bodies since of China’s objections. Beijing says only it has the suitable to speak for Taiwan on the international stage.
Taiwan says only its democratically elected government has this suitable.
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