The US encourages “all countries to expand engagement with Taiwan,” a US Department of State official said on Saturday, after Palau’s president said that the Micronesian nation has faced economic coercion from China over its ties to Taiwan.
“Taiwan is a reliable, like-minded and democratic partner, and its partnerships — official and unofficial — around the world provide significant and sustainable benefits to the citizens of those countries,” a State Department spokesperson said. “We encourage all countries to expand engagement with Taiwan.”
Earlier this month, Washington condemned Beijing’s “predatory economic activities.”
Photo: CNA
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr on Aug. 14 said that “China has openly told us [Palau’s relationship with Taiwan] is illegal and we should not recognize Taiwan.”
Whipps cited reduced visitor numbers from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as evidence of economic coercion aimed at encouraging Palau to sever its formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
He separately told The Associated Press in an interview that the Chinese ambassador stationed in a neighboring country had in 2020 promised to send 1 million Chinese visitors to Palau if the tourism-dependent country severed relations with Taiwan and established ties with China.
Despite this “weaponization” of tourism, the Palauan president reaffirmed his country’s commitment to Taiwan, saying “our relationship with Taiwan should not be questioned by anyone.”
In response to Whipps’ comments, the US Department of State on Aug. 16 said that Washington is “aware of reported previous attempts to economically pressure Palau, likely due to its diplomatic ties with Taiwan.”
“These reports align with a range of alleged increasingly problematic behavior from the PRC, including predatory economic activities,” the State Department’s press office said.
Since establishing formal relations with Taiwan in 1999, Palau — a small nation in Micronesia with a population of fewer than 20,000 — has resisted China’s diplomatic overtures.
In other news, a senior White House official on Friday said that the US would raise concerns about China’s “destabilizing” military, diplomatic and economic pressure on Taiwan when US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan meets China’s foreign minister in Beijing next week.
Sullivan would travel to Beijing for meetings with Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi (王毅) from tomorrow to Thursday, the White House said.
“I expect in these conversations next week we’re going to raise concerns about the PRC’s increased military, diplomatic and economic pressure against Taiwan,” the official said in a news briefing phone call early on Friday morning.
“These activities are destabilizing and risk escalation,” the official said, without elaborating. “And we’re going to continue to urge Beijing to engage in meaningful dialogue with Taipei.”
Reiterating the commitment of US President Joe Biden’s administration to the US’ “one China” policy — in which Washington recognizes the PRC as the sole legal government of China, but only acknowledges Beijing’s claim that Taiwan is a part of China — the official said the US “oppose[s] unilateral changes to the status quo from either side.”
“We expect cross-strait differences to be resolved peacefully,” the official added.
“Everything that we have seen come out of Taipei indicates that the current leadership remains committed to maintaining status quo and peace and stability,” the official said, referring to President William Lai’s (賴清德) calls for dialogue with Beijing since assuming office in May.
The official added that “the economic impact of instability in the region would be overwhelming” and there is a “global stake in continued peace and stability and status quo.”
Separately, Chinese state media yesterday said that Beijing plans to voice “serious concerns” on Taiwan and other security issues in the upcoming talks with the US.
Additional reporting by AFP
Typhoon Usagi yesterday had weakened into a tropical storm, but a land warning issued by the Central Weather Administration (CWA) was still in effect in four areas in southern Taiwan. As of 5pm yesterday, Tropical Storm Usagi was over waters 120km south-southwest of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), the southernmost tip of Taiwan proper, and was moving north at 9kph, CWA data showed. The storm was expected to veer northeast later yesterday. It had maximum sustained winds of 101kph, with gusts of up to 126kph, the data showed. The CWA urged residents of Kaohsiung, Pingtung County, Taitung County and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春) to remain alert to
ONE LAST TALK: While Xi said that Taiwan was a ‘red line,’ Biden, in what is likely his last meeting with Xi as president, called for an end to China’s military activity around Taiwan China’s military intimidation and economic coercion against Taiwan are the main causes of tensions that are destabilizing peace in the Taiwan Strait, Taipei said yesterday while thanking US President Joe Biden for expressing Washington’s firm stance of maintaining peace and stability in the region. Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) met on Saturday for their third meeting and their first talks in seven months on the sidelines of the APEC forum in Lima, Peru. It was likely Biden’s last meeting as president with Xi. During their conversation, Biden reiterated the US’ opposition to any unilateral change to the “status quo” from either
Taiwan would participate in the 2026 APEC summit to be hosted by China after Beijing promised it would ensure the personal safety of attendees, Taiwanese national security sources said yesterday. The APEC Leaders’ Machu Picchu Declaration announced yesterday said that China would host the APEC summit in 2026. Beijing proposed hosting the summit shortly before this year’s gathering began on Friday, a national security official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Many APEC members expressed concerns about China hosting the event and said that prior communication over the decision was insufficient, the official said. Taiwan brought up concerns about legal “guidelines” China announced in
MEET AND GREET: The White House, which called the interaction ‘just a handshake,’ did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether Biden planned to visit Taiwan’s envoy to the APEC summit, Lin Hsin-i (林信義), on Friday invited US President Joe Biden to visit Taiwan. During the APEC Leaders’ Informal Dialogue, Lin, who represented President William Lai (賴清德) at the summit, spoke with Biden and expressed gratitude to the outgoing US president for his contribution to improving bilateral ties between Taipei and Washington over the past four years, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Lin and Biden exchanged views during the conversation, with Lin extending an invitation to Biden to visit Taiwan, it said. Biden is to step down in January next year, when US president-elect Donald Trump is
RSS