Taiwan president to visit US, but no confirmation of McCarthy meeting

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
21 Mar 2023 14:26

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen will stop over in the US for a few meetings as part of her Central America trip.

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen, second from right, and other senior Taiwanese officials greet foreign diplomats during the 2023 Spring Banquet held by the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taipei, Taiwan, on Friday, March 17, 2023. (AP)

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen will visit Central America in the coming days which, according to Reuters, will include making sensitive stopovers in the US. The visits of the Taiwanese President to the US will likely deepen the conflict between the US and China, however, US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has not yet confirmed any meeting with the Taiwanese leader.

While on diplomatic visits to Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, Taiwanese presidents usually stop over in the US. These trips are not official state visits, yet, they are frequently employed by both sides for high-level discussions.

The US is Taiwan's biggest overseas supporter and weapons supplier, despite not having formal diplomatic relations with the island as per the One-China policy.

China has stated that it is "seriously concerned" about Tsai's intentions to transit via the US, which has lately received extensive coverage in Taiwanese and foreign media.

Tsai is scheduled to visit Guatemala and Belize between March 29 and April 7 and will stop in New York and Los Angeles en route, according to presidential office spokesperson Lin Yu-chan. Reuters has learned from sources that McCarthy planned to meet her during her visit to California.

On this note, Taiwan Vice Foreign Minister Alexander Yui stated that information on the US transits would be given at a later date once arrangements had been finalized.

A US Senior official told Reuters "We see no reason for Beijing to turn this transit, again, which is consistent with long-standing U.S. policy, into anything but what it is. It should not be used as a pretext to step up any aggressive activity around the Taiwan Strait."

The official also said that Washington has informed China that Tsai's stopovers are in accordance with previously set precedents, adding that "there is nothing new from our point of view."