TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan’s president and an unofficial delegation of former senior U.S. authorities officers despatched by President Joe Biden reaffirmed “rock stable” U.S.-Taiwan ties, amid heightened tensions with China.
The U.S. has expressed a “rock stable help for Taiwan,” President Tsai Ing-wen stated Thursday in opening remarks earlier than the 2 sides met in Taipei, the island’s capital.
“I can see with confidence that the US’ partnership with Taiwan is stronger than ever,” former U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd stated. “We share deep financial ties and mutual dedication to democratic values, and critically vital safety partnership.”
Dodd, a Democratic senator from Connecticut from 1981 to 2011, was accompanied by two former deputy secretaries of state, James Steinberg from the Democratic Obama administration and Richard Armitage, who served below Republican President George W. Bush.
The delegation arrived Wednesday and met with Tsai Thursday they usually’ll meet with different officers throughout their three-day go to, Taiwan’s International Ministry stated.
U.S. help for Taiwan is coming at a time of elevated naval maneuvers and flybys by China’s army within the waters and airspace across the island.
China considers the island as its personal territory, and has made reunification with Taiwan a long-term objective, though the island is self-ruled.
On Monday, China despatched a report 25 fighter jets in direction of Taiwan, in line with Taiwan’s Ministry of Nationwide Protection.
Tsai stated she was keen to work with like-minded nations, together with the U.S. “to collectively safeguard the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific and deter journey maneuvers and provocations.”