President-elect Lai Ching-te thanks Washington for “strong support”

The head of state spoke with an informal American delegation in Taipei, at the end of an electoral campaign marked by increasing pressure from China.

The president-elect of Taiwan, Lai Ching-te, thanked the United States on Monday, January 15, during a meeting with an informal American delegation in Taipei, in a context of increasing pressure from China. “I am grateful to the United States for its strong support for Taiwan’s democracy, which demonstrates the close and strong partnership between Taiwan and the United States.”declared Lai Ching-te, two days after his election.

And “even if China continues to harass Taiwan through military or other activities, Taiwan faces [à la situation] calmly and calmly and works with like-minded partners, including the United States, to maintain the status quo of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.”, he added. Earlier, the delegation met with outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen, who, like Lai Ching-te, is from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). She greeted a “very meaningful visit” Who “fully demonstrates US support for Taiwanese democracy”.

“Threats and intimidation”

Made up of former National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, former Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg and President of the American Institute in Taiwan Laura Rosenberger, the commission is due to leave Taiwan on Tuesday. Stephen Hadley hailed Taiwan’s democracy as “an example for the whole world”. For its part, China declared itself “firmly opposed” to any official exchange between the United States and Taiwan, a few hours after the visit of this delegation.

This visit comes at the end of an electoral campaign marked by increasing pressure, both diplomatic and military, from China, which considers Taiwan as one of its provinces, to be reunified by force if necessary. Lai Ching-te, outgoing vice president, considers the island to be de facto independent and has promised to protect it from “threats and intimidation” from Beijing. The status of Taiwan is undoubtedly the most explosive subject in relations between China and the United States.

If Washington has recognized Beijing to the detriment of Taipei since 1979, the American Congress has at the same time imposed the provision of weapons to Taiwan, with the stated aim of dissuading China from any expansionist desire.