Taiwan President vows to boost military ties with the United States
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The five-day US Congressional visit comes after a key US defense official reportedly made a rare and top-secret trip to Taiwan as tensions between Washington and Beijing soar.
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Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen (AFP)
Despite China's anger at a flurry of trips to Taiwan by US politicians in recent years, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said Tuesday, after meeting with visiting US lawmakers, that Taiwan will boost military exchanges with the United States to curb alleged "authoritarian expansionism".
The five-day US Congressional visit comes after a key US defense official reportedly made a rare and highly secret trip to the island as tensions between Washington and Beijing erupted over alleged Chinese spy balloons.
"Taiwan and the United States continue to bolster military exchanges," Tsai said after convening with the US delegation at her office in Taipei.
"Going forward, Taiwan will cooperate even more actively with the United States and other democratic partners to confront such global challenges as authoritarian expansionism and climate change," she added.
Tsai did not elaborate on what the future exchanges would entail.
US-China relations have been strained due to provocative visits by US lawmakers, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, to Taiwan, despite objections from Beijing.
Most recent provocations also include heightened tensions with Japan and allegations that China deliberately breached US airspace by sending alleged spy balloons to the US.
Beijing has called on the US several times to cease spreading sentiments of sinophobia via its 'China threat' narrative and to break off the spell of a 'Cold War' mentality between the two global powers but to no avail.
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