Taiwan's president-elect Lai welcomes US delegation
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Taiwan's newly-elected president meets a US Delegation following his win on Saturday.
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Then-Taiwan Vice President William Lai, left, chats with Ingrid D. Larson, managing director of the American Institute in Taiwan/Washington Office upon arrival in New York on August13, 2023. (AP)
Taiwan's president-elect Lai Ching-te met with a delegation from Washington on Sunday making a post-election visit.
During the meeting that took place at his party's headquarters, Lai praised the island's "solid partnership" with the United States, saying that freedom and democracy "are the most valuable assets for the Taiwanese people, and the sacred mountains to protect Taiwan."
"They are also the core values Taiwan and the United States share and the foundation for the long-term stability in Taiwan-US partnership," he added.
Lai also stated that he is grateful for "the strong support from the United States for Taiwan's democracy which demonstrates the close and solid partnership between Taiwan and the United States, " describing it as of great significance to Taiwan.
He claimed that under his future administration, "Taiwan will continue to defend peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait under the foundation built by President Tsai Ing-wen."
The delegation went to the Presidential Office to meet with Tsai, before meeting Lai, who said their visit highlights the "close and staunch" US-Taiwan partnership.
On Sunday, the Chinese foreign ministry criticized US Secretary of State Antony Blinken for congratulating Lai on his victory, saying it constitutes a violation of the One-China Principle.
The delegation
The unofficial delegation, sent by US President Joe Biden's administration, met senior politicians including current President Tsai Ing-wen and Lai, the winner of Saturday's elections.
The chair of the American Institute of Taiwan, the de facto US embassy of the island, led the delegation consisting of a former US national security adviser and a former deputy secretary of state.
This visit is a first for the US delegation since Tsai's election win in 2016.
In a statement issued after Lai emerged as the winner, Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson, Chen Binhua, said the vote "will not change the basic landscape and development trend of cross-Strait relations," according to state news agency Xinhua.
Beijing's stance on "realizing national reunification remains consistent, and our determination is as firm as rock", Chen stressed, adding that "Taiwan is China's Taiwan."
He reiterated that Beijing "firmly oppose(s) the separatist activities aimed at 'Taiwan independence' as well as foreign interference."
